Social Identity and Social Learning Factors as Predictors of Intergroup and Intragroup Social Aggressiveness in College Sororities

<p>Using <em>social identity theory</em> (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and <em>social learning theory</em> (Bandura, 1977) as theoretical guides, the main objective of the present study was to determine if individual and group identity factors--unstable self-esteem, narcissism, sorority member intragroup status, collective narcissism, sorority intergroup status, sorority intergroup social aggressiveness, and sorority intragroup social aggressiveness--were predictive of young adult females' intergroup and intragroup social aggressiveness in college sororities. Participants for the present study included (N= 222) young adult females who are current members of college sororities in the United States. Path analysis revealed that many individual identity and group identity factors predict young adult females' intergroup and intragroup social aggressiveness in college sororities. Although higher levels of unstable self-esteem did not predict higher levels of young adult females' intergroup social aggressiveness, higher levels of unstable self-esteem were predictive of higher levels of young adult females' intragroup social aggressiveness. Similarly, higher levels of narcissism did not predict higher levels of young adult females' intergroup social aggressiveness but were predictive of higher levels of young adult females' intragroup social aggressiveness. Higher levels of collective narcissism and higher levels of sorority intergroup status were predictive of higher levels of young adult females' intergroup social aggressiveness. However, higher levels of sorority member intragroup status did not predict higher levels of young adult females' intragroup social aggressiveness. Additionally, higher levels of sorority intergroup social aggressiveness were predictive of higher levels of young adult females' intergroup social aggressiveness, whereas higher levels of sorority intragroup social aggressiveness were predictive of higher levels of young adult females' intragroup social aggressiveness. However, the mediation in the present study was not supported. Specifically, higher levels of sorority intergroup status did not predict higher levels of sorority intergroup social aggressiveness, which did not predict higher levels of young adult females' intergroup social aggressiveness. Implications for these findings, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research are offered.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Doran, Bethany L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Erin K. Willer, Ph.D.
• Charles Reichardt
• Elizabeth Suter
• Mary Clair Morr Serewicz

• College sororities
• Social aggression
• Social identity theory
• Social learning theory
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/169

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-1168