Cancel Culture & Collective Validation

The concept of validation has received limited attention in the intergroup relations literature. However, feelings of collective validation may help to inspire and sustain collective action. Two experiments investigate whether episodes of cancel culture, the opprobrium and exiling of harm-doers, can inspire feelings of collective validation among members of the harmed group and whether these feelings influence subsequent collective action. Study 1, using an incident of sexism, showed that an episode of cancel culture had an indirect positive effect on collective action mediated by feelings of collective validation and collective empowerment. Study 2, using an incident of anti-East Asian hate, showed the indirect effect of cancel culture on collective action mediated by feelings of collective validation and collective anger and contempt. This research offers an empirical introduction to the concept of collective validation utilizing the understudied context of cancel culture and demonstrates their impact on collective action.

在跨群体关系文献中，验证的概念并未得到充分关注。然而，集体的认同感或许能够激发并维持集体行动。本研究通过两项实验探讨了取消文化事件，即对加害者的贬斥与放逐，是否能够激发受害群体成员的集体认同感，以及这些情感是否会影响后续的集体行动。研究一以性别歧视事件为例，揭示了取消文化事件通过集体认同感和集体赋权感间接对集体行动产生积极影响。研究二以反东亚仇恨事件为例，展示了取消文化通过集体认同感、集体愤怒与蔑视感间接影响集体行动的间接效应。本研究以取消文化这一未被充分研究的背景为实证基础，对集体认同感概念进行了实证引入，并证明了其对集体行动的影响。