Uncertainty identity theory (e.g., Hogg, 2021a) posits that when feelings of self-uncertainty arise, we are motivated to reduce those feelings, and one way we can do this is to identify with a distinctive group that has a clearly defined identity. In these circumstances, we look to the group’s leaders to provide an identity message, and to do so in an unambiguous and affirmational manner. This analysis generates a hypothesis that has attracted partial support (Gaffney et al., 2019), but requires more rigorous testingin conditions of high self-uncertainty, identity-affirming rhetoric used by leaders increases (a) group identification, (b) perceived group entitativity, and (c) leadership support. The current study is a 2 x 2 between-participants design (N = 199) in which two independent variables, identity language and self-uncertainty, were manipulated. Texas residents, recruited via CloudConnect, were randomly assigned to conditions that elicited either high or low self-uncertainty, and were then exposed to a message from a Texas leader that used either affirmational or negational identity rhetoric. Group identification, perceived group entitativity, and support for the leader were measured post-manipulation. No support was found for our hypothesis, though exploratory results revealed insightful significant interactions of political ideology and self-uncertainty used on entitativity and political ideology and language used on leader support.
","abstract_html":"<p>Uncertainty identity theory (e.g., Hogg, 2021a) posits that when feelings of self-uncertainty arise, we are motivated to reduce those feelings, and one way we can do this is to identify with a distinctive group that has a clearly defined identity. In these circumstances, we look to the group’s leaders to provide an identity message, and to do so in an unambiguous and affirmational manner. This analysis generates a hypothesis that has attracted partial support (Gaffney et al., 2019), but requires more rigorous testingin conditions of high self-uncertainty, identity-affirming rhetoric used by leaders increases (a) group identification, (b) perceived group entitativity, and (c) leadership support. The current study is a 2 x 2 between-participants design (N = 199) in which two independent variables, identity language and self-uncertainty, were manipulated. Texas residents, recruited via CloudConnect, were randomly assigned to conditions that elicited either high or low self-uncertainty, and were then exposed to a message from a Texas leader that used either affirmational or negational identity rhetoric. Group identification, perceived group entitativity, and support for the leader were measured post-manipulation. No support was found for our hypothesis, though exploratory results revealed insightful significant interactions of political ideology and self-uncertainty used on entitativity and political ideology and language used on leader support.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gardner, Samantha"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Psychology, MA","degree_level":"Open Access Master's Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["William D. Crano"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:40:49Z","subjects":["group identification","group processes","leadership","leadership rhetoric","self-uncertainty","social identity","Social Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/863","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["William D. Crano"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gardner, Samantha"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-11-14T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Master's Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Psychology, MA"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["group identification","group processes","leadership","leadership rhetoric","self-uncertainty","social identity","Social Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/863"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Uncertainty identity theory (e.g., Hogg, 2021a) posits that when feelings of self-uncertainty arise, we are motivated to reduce those feelings, and one way we can do this is to identify with a distinctive group that has a clearly defined identity. In these circumstances, we look to the group’s leaders to provide an identity message, and to do so in an unambiguous and affirmational manner. This analysis generates a hypothesis that has attracted partial support (Gaffney et al., 2019), but requires more rigorous testingin conditions of high self-uncertainty, identity-affirming rhetoric used by leaders increases (a) group identification, (b) perceived group entitativity, and (c) leadership support. The current study is a 2 x 2 between-participants design (N = 199) in which two independent variables, identity language and self-uncertainty, were manipulated. Texas residents, recruited via CloudConnect, were randomly assigned to conditions that elicited either high or low self-uncertainty, and were then exposed to a message from a Texas leader that used either affirmational or negational identity rhetoric. Group identification, perceived group entitativity, and support for the leader were measured post-manipulation. No support was found for our hypothesis, though exploratory results revealed insightful significant interactions of political ideology and self-uncertainty used on entitativity and political ideology and language used on leader support.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Wait, Who Did You Say We Are? The Effects of Self-Uncertainty and Leadership Rhetoric on Group Identification"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["William D. Crano"],"dc:creator":["Gardner, Samantha"],"dc:date.available":["2024-11-14T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Uncertainty identity theory (e.g., Hogg, 2021a) posits that when feelings of self-uncertainty arise, we are motivated to reduce those feelings, and one way we can do this is to identify with a distinctive group that has a clearly defined identity. In these circumstances, we look to the group’s leaders to provide an identity message, and to do so in an unambiguous and affirmational manner. This analysis generates a hypothesis that has attracted partial support (Gaffney et al., 2019), but requires more rigorous testingin conditions of high self-uncertainty, identity-affirming rhetoric used by leaders increases (a) group identification, (b) perceived group entitativity, and (c) leadership support. The current study is a 2 x 2 between-participants design (N = 199) in which two independent variables, identity language and self-uncertainty, were manipulated. Texas residents, recruited via CloudConnect, were randomly assigned to conditions that elicited either high or low self-uncertainty, and were then exposed to a message from a Texas leader that used either affirmational or negational identity rhetoric. Group identification, perceived group entitativity, and support for the leader were measured post-manipulation. No support was found for our hypothesis, though exploratory results revealed insightful significant interactions of political ideology and self-uncertainty used on entitativity and political ideology and language used on leader support.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/863"],"dc:subject":["group identification","group processes","leadership","leadership rhetoric","self-uncertainty","social identity","Social Psychology"],"dc:title":["Wait, Who Did You Say We Are? The Effects of Self-Uncertainty and Leadership Rhetoric on Group Identification"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Master's Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Psychology, MA"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:40:49Z"}