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!