Joint collective action increases support for social change and mitigates intergroup polarisation: A registered report

Over the past decade, a surge in protests and social movements worldwide has offered promise for positive social change while also introducing divisions and tensions into society. In the current research, we examined the impact of joint collective action involving both advantaged and disadvantaged group members, as well as collective action solely involving disadvantaged group members, on public support for social change and intergroup polarisation. Two experimental studies (Studies 1a and 1b; N = 575) provided initial insights, revealing that joint collective action (vs. collective action by the disadvantaged) facilitated support for social change and mitigated intergroup polarisation. Building upon these initial findings, we propose two studies (Studies 2 and 3; projected N ∼ 1132) in the form of a registered report, aiming to delve into the psychological mechanisms underlying the observed effects (i.e., morality threat and perceived respect) and replicate these findings in varied protest contexts (i.e., gender and race relations). Additionally, we aim to examine if the (leadership vs. supportive) role of advantaged allies in joint collective action would have different impacts on disadvantaged group members' responses.