promoting peace and peace activism winnifred louis school of psychology, university of queensland
TRANSCRIPT
Promoting Peace and Peace Activism
Winnifred LouisSchool of Psychology,
University of Queensland
Acknowledgements
This research was supported under the Australian Research Council's Discovery funding scheme (project number DP0663937).
Dr. Leda Blackwood, School of Psychology, St. Andrews, Scotland
Carla Barnett, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia
Outline Introduction
Key points to target – agreement, awareness, intentions to act, action
Sustaining membership – gratification, success, values, alternatives
The Brisbane Activists’ study Psychologists for peace UQ peace psychology Discussion – psychological barriers and
motives
couch potato problem
Did not agree with goals (26%)
Agreed with goals (74%) Not aware of rally (15%)
Aware of rally (59%)
Did not intend to go (49%)
Intended to go (10%) Did not go (6%)
Attended rally (4%)
Klandermans & Oegema (1994)
Mobilizing for a peace rally in the Mobilizing for a peace rally in the Netherlands, 1980sNetherlands, 1980s
Why stay an activist? It’s gratifying
Friends, peers -> social support
Benefits like learning & skill development
It’s working Perceiving successes Matching expectations
It expresses important values & identities
A stake in the work x no attractive alternatives
Very important to beginning activists
Activist ID fostered by action
Group IDs & norms reinforce or conflict
Other soc movt competitors?
Peace activism vs other activism – heartbreaking, abstract, future-oriented, universalist
Responsibility Commission >
omission Issues in the public
eye Costs > benefits Present > future Close > far Concrete, immediate
effects and control
The relative avoidance of positive peace work
The 2008-9 Brisbane Activists’ Survey
Time 1 online survey 58 volunteers Mean age approximately 43 years (18 - 75) Predominately female (74%) 42 different organisations represented with
group membership ranging from less than 1 year to over 20 years
approx. 20% are members of other organisations Time 2 online survey
49 volunteers Time 3 online survey
42 volunteers
Individuals’ beliefs promoting intentions
*p<.05; **p<.01Numbers in parentheses are standard deviations
Disseminating info/educating
people
Political lobbying/election
campaigning
Doing nothin
g
M5.11
(1.96)3.57
(2.12)2.20
(1.78)
Belief society is hard to change(-3 to +3)
0.04(1.01
)-.46** -.50** .35**
Belief own action is important(1 to 7)
5.91(1.26
).29* .15 -.20
Perception action is beneficial to self
- .35** .42** .46**
Individuals’ emotions and intentions
Disseminating info/educating
people
Political lobbying/election
campaigning
Doing nothin
g
Emotions: Determined, purposeful
4.86(0.96
).28* .16 -.27*
Emotions: Angry, outraged, disgusted
3.67 (1.60
)-.21 -.18 .07
Emotion: Calm, hopeful
3.10 (1.29
)-.10 -.04 .16
Collective factorsDisseminating info/educating
people
Political lobbying/election
campaigning
Doing nothin
g
Identification with group
5.77(0.77
).26* .16 -.27*
Belief can achieve goals through collective action
6.22 (1.04
).63** -.18 .07
Belief many others will act collectively
5 (1.21
).32* -.04 .16
Collective factors, continued
Disseminating info/educating
people
Political lobbying/election
campaigning
Doing nothin
g
Group approval of related behaviour
- .01 .38** .29*
Benefit of behaviour for group
- .31* .30* .05
Promoting action involves Beliefs and
Emotions of the individual Society can change Your action matters Action benefits you Determination
But not necessarily anger
Group culture Meaning, belonging,
pride - identity Others’ approval of
particular actions Learning to believe
in the benefit of particular actions for your group
Time 2
47% of respondents reported had acted in support of their group’s goals 53% did not …
87% of respondents indicated that their group had acted in support of the group’s goals 13% of groups did not …
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
Low High
Power
De
term
ina
tio
n r
e:
gro
up
op
po
sit
ion
We asked people to think about how their group had high or low power
When power was low people reported more determination (M = 5.81)
Compared to high power (M = 4.64)
This is a highly functional reaction (though intentions didn’t change). But what about beginning activists?
Time 3 33% of respondents indicated they had
engaged in activities in support of their group’s goals (esp. disseminating information and educating people) 66% had not …
Identification -> intentions
Time 3 – other findings Past action -> higher future intentions Greater perception of group approval of the
behaviour -> higher future intentions Perceptions of opponent approval had no
impact on future intentions Personal and group benefits -> higher future
intentions But group factors were more important
Psychologists for Peace
An ‘interest group’ of the Australian Psychological Society
Google “psychologists for peace” –cool initiatives and resources
Peace podcasts Incl pamphlets and posters –
feedback welcome!
UQ Peace Psychology
5 day workshop July 6-10, in Brisbane led by Dan Christie
Activism & academia peace forum: Monday July 13 1-5pm Seeking activists speakers and
audience!
Psychology of Peace
Beliefs Emotions Behaviours
Thank you!