Mixed feelings. Changing group-based emotions explain the decline in collective action for Ukrainian refugees

Abstract

This study (N = 477) aimed to investigate whether over-time changes in group-based emotions explain the gradual decline in third-group members’ collective action for a disadvantaged outgroup. We differentiated between three classes of group-based emotions: those related to the bystander ingroup (i.e., pride and guilt), those elicited by a disadvantaged outgroup (i.e., empathy and anxiety), and those related to an advantaged outgroup (i.e., anger and fear). The context for the study was provided by Poles’ (an unaffected third group) collective action for Ukrainian refugees (a disadvantaged outgroup) fleeing the Russian (an advantaged outgroup) invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Using data collected across four measurements conducted between March 2022 and February 2023, we found that the level of Poles’ willingness to engage for Ukrainian refugees and all group-based emotions except guilt decreased over time. Notably, the decline in collective action was explained by the decreases in outgroup-directed empathy and ingroup pride but not by changes in the remaining group-based emotions. These results suggest that third-group members’ engagement for a disadvantaged outgroup may simultaneously depend on outgroup- and ingroup-focused motivations.