Wanting to Get More or Protecting One's Assets: Age-Differential Effects of Gain Versus Loss Perceptions on the Willingness to Engage in Collective Action

Weiss, David; Sczesny, Sabine; Freund, Alexandra M. (2016). Wanting to Get More or Protecting One's Assets: Age-Differential Effects of Gain Versus Loss Perceptions on the Willingness to Engage in Collective Action. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 71(2), pp. 254-264. Oxford Journals 10.1093/geronb/gbu098

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OBJECTIVES:
The present research examined motivational differences across adulthood that might contribute to age-related differences in the willingness to engage in collective action. Two experiments addressed the role of gain and loss orientation for age-related differences in the willingness to engage in collective action across adulthood.

METHOD:
In Experiment 1, N = 169 adults (20-85 years) were confronted with a hypothetical scenario that involved either an impending increase or decrease of health insurance costs for their respective age group. In Experiment 2, N = 231 adults (18-83 years) were asked to list an advantage or disadvantage they perceived in being a member of their age group. Subsequently, participants indicated their willingness to engage in collective action on behalf of their age group.

RESULTS:
Both experiments suggest that, with increasing age, people are more willing to engage in collective action when they are confronted with the prospect of loss or a disadvantage.

DISCUSSION:
The findings highlight the role of motivational processes for involvement in collective action across adulthood. With increasing age, (anticipated) loss or perceived disadvantages become more important for the willingness to participate in collective action.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology

UniBE Contributor:

Sczesny, Sabine

Subjects:

100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology

ISSN:

1079-5014

Publisher:

Oxford Journals

Language:

English

Submitter:

Irène Gonce-Gyr

Date Deposited:

25 Mar 2015 10:15

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:44

Publisher DOI:

10.1093/geronb/gbu098

PubMed ID:

25147129

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Adulthood, Collective action, Gains, Losses, Motivational orientation

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.65565

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/65565

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