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Matteo Antonini
Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Michael A. Hogg
Social Identity Lab, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA
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Lucia Mannetti
Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Barbara Barbieri
Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Joseph A. Wagoner
Social Identity Lab, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA
Abstract
Under what conditions do citizens of nations and states comply with governmental requests to participate in public policymaking? Drawing on the dual pathway model of collective action (Stürmer & Simon, 2004) but with a focus on compliance with the status quo, rather than participation in collective protest, two studies examined citizens’ motivation to participate in public policymaking. Study 1 (N = 169) was an MTurk hosted survey that recruited participants from California, while Study 2 (N = 198) was a field experiment that recruited participants in Sardinia, Italy. Study 1 measured cost-benefit analyses, societal identification, and willingness to participate in public policymaking. Study 2 repeated the same procedures, with the exception that we manipulated costs of participation, and also measured participants’ trust in government. Study 1 confirmed our initial hypotheses – fewer costs predicted more willingness to participate, as did stronger state identification. However, Study 2 found an interactive effect of costs, identification, and trust on willingness to participate in public policymaking. Results confirm our hypotheses by showing that both costs and identification independently influence willingness to participate in public policymaking. Results also add to the literature by showing that these additive pathways can be influenced by trust in the source of governance.
