Julia Kassab
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Eugenia Quintanilla
Co-Presenter: Rich , Noah
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Political Science / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Julia Kassab
Presenter: 27
Abstract
Evidence from social psychology demonstrates that self-interest, and prosocial tendencies, are instinctual and informed by conformity (Zaki & Mitchell 2013, Nook et. al 2015). Similarly, political science research has demonstrated that social comparison is important for welfare preferences among Americans. (Condon & Wichowski 2019). However, the role of partisan group identification, and status self-reflection, is less explored in this area of research. Our work seeks to explore this gap. We study the relationship between self-perceived social status and partisan identity centrality to political behavior and attitudes, specifically self-reported voting, protest, and prosocial behavior. With a Lucid Theorem convenience sample (n = 1000), we measure the strength of partisan identity by comparing the ANES political identity centrality scale and Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) scale (Aron 1992). We then cross-examine these group identity centrality measures with prosocial behavior measures to attempt to demonstrate how group-connection strength in politics influences political preferences. Further, we plan to test if prosocial preferences and behaviors are modulated by respondents’ self-reflection on their own social standing. We hypothesize that respondents assigned to reflect on their status may also report higher levels of prosocial preferences. We discuss limitations of and future research directions emphasizing why subjective measures of status matter for political behavior.
Interdisciplinary, Social Sciences
