Identity expansion and social change
Can expanding the sense of self to include broader communities increase prosocial motivation and social engagement?
This idea focuses on experiences of interconnectedness, common humanity, and expanded identity. The research question is whether such perspectives can support compassion, cooperation, civic action, or social change.
Possible study designs:
- Compare interventions emphasizing personal identity, common humanity, community identity, or global identity.
- Test outcomes such as prosocial intention, polarization, social responsibility, and meaning.
- Examine whether identity expansion works differently for personal well-being versus collective action.
Key risks:
- Interconnectedness messages can become vague or sentimental unless tied to concrete behavior.
- Universal identity may sometimes reduce attention to structural inequality or local obligations.
Related ideas: