Abandon Ship or Stay on Board: Threats to Power Influence Group Adherence

Abstract

How do people respond when their group s power is threatened? Four studies suggest that threats to group power lead people to adhere to and invest in their group. When a personally important group s power was threatened, people psychologically adhered to the group (Studies 1a and 1b). This adherence occurred among people who were high (but not low) in group identification (Study 2). Adherence to the group was associated with behaviors aimed at promoting benefits to the group (Study 3). Findings suggest that people invest themselves in personally important groups when the group s power is threatened. This occurs largely among people strongly identified with a group, suggesting that clinging to the group occurs especially when costs to leaving are high.