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Group commitment in the face of discrimination: The role of legitimacy appraisals

  1. Jolanda Jetten1,5,*,
  2. Michael T. Schmitt2,
  3. Nyla R. Branscombe3,
  4. Azenett A. Garza4,
  5. Avril J. Mewse5

Article first published online: 11 JUN 2010

DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.743

Issue

European Journal of Social Psychology

European Journal of Social Psychology

Volume 41, Issue 1, pages 116–126, February 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jetten, J., Schmitt, M. T., Branscombe, N. R., Garza, A. A. and Mewse, A. J. (2011), Group commitment in the face of discrimination: The role of legitimacy appraisals. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol., 41: 116–126. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.743

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, USA

  4. 4

    Department of Psychology, Weber State University, USA

  5. 5

    School of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK

*School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia 4072, Brisbane, Australia.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 JAN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 11 JUN 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 JAN 2010
  4. Manuscript Received: 11 MAR 2009

Funded by

  • ESRC. Grant Number: R000223981
  • ARC. Grant Number: DP0984576

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Abstract

In contrast to everyday use of the term discrimination, we propose that discrimination can be appraised as either illegitimate or legitimate, and a comprehensive analysis of responses to discrimination needs to account for both ways of experiencing discrimination. We examine how perceived pervasiveness of discrimination and legitimacy appraisals affect group commitment among women in academia (Study 1) and tobacco smokers facing an upcoming smoking ban (Study 2). We found support for our hypothesis that legitimacy of discrimination appraisals moderates the effect of pervasiveness of discrimination. In both studies, group identification and collective action intentions were undermined most when the ingroup claimed that discrimination against them was legitimate and discrimination was perceived as pervasive. In both studies, group identification mediated the effects on collective action intentions. The results highlight the important role of legitimacy appraisals in understanding disadvantaged group members' responses to discriminatory treatment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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