Abstract
Groups serve a variety of crucial functions, one of which is the provision of an identity and belief system that impart self-referent information, thereby reducing self-uncertainty. Entitative groups are more attractive for highly uncertain participants seeking groups for identification and self-uncertainty reduction than less entitative groups. The purpose of the current study was to explore how self-uncertainty impacts physiological arousal and stress responses. Using a mixed-methods design (N = 123), we found that self-uncertainty increased physiological arousal (measured via skin-conductance level) and stress responses (measured via heart rate). Furthermore, we found that uncertainty-activated physiological arousal and stress responses were decreased through identification with a high entitativity group. Our findings expand upon uncertainty identity theory by identifying physiological mechanisms that motivate uncertainty reduction.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e13836 |
Journal | Psychophysiology |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2021 |
Keywords
- HR
- SCL
- identification
- piecewise multilevel growth curve modeling
- self-uncertainty