A Review of the Determinants of Participation in Collective Actions from a Social Psychology Perspective

Abstract

Examination of collective action and its determinants, which have great social effects is important in terms of understanding and foreseeing such actions. The aim of this literature review is to provide a summary of the main and current discussions and research of collective action from the perspective of social psychology for publication in Turkish and provide knowledge for alternative research areas to students and researchers who want to work on collective action. Accordingly, this review is structured into six main sections. In the first part, the definition of collective action is presented, this definition is discussed, and a typology of collective action is introduced through a social psychological perspective. In the second part, four main motivations (identification with the group, efficacy beliefs, feelings of anger, and moral motivations) that determine participation in collective action are explained and these motivations are examined with the empirical findings that provide evidence for these phenomena. In addition, models that examine one or more of these motivational sources together (e.g., Social Identity Model of Collective Action) are introduced. In the third section, studies related to the sedative effect of intergroup contact on the intention of the disadvantaged group to participate in collective actions are mentioned. In the fourth section, the effect of intergroup contact on advantaged groups’ motivation to participate in solidarity-based collective action is discussed. In the fifth part, a summary of the studies examining the Gezi Park protests as a common example of collective actions in our country is presented. To conclude, existing models and perspectives on collective action are discussed, the research gap in the field is highlighted, and alternative research topics are suggested for future studies.