Social identity and group identification in conditions of success and defeat

Context and relevance. Situations of group success (winning) and defeat (losing) significantly affect group identification; however, empirical evidence remains inconsistent. Some studies report increased group commitment following failure (as a defensive mechanism), while others find distancing from the group. Moreover, the role of an individual's basic social identity structure (multiple, hierarchical, diffuse, or egocentric) in moderating this dynamic remains largely unexplored, particularly in situational, ad-hoc groups. The present study fills this gap by analyzing the interaction between group outcome and identity type.
Objective. To determine the dynamics of group identification in conditions of group winning and losing, and to establish the nature of the influence of basic social identity type on these dynamics.
Hypothesis. Group loss will lead to increased group identification. It is assumed that the interaction between game outcome and identity type determines the dynamics of identification.
Methods and materials. Sample: 264 undergraduate students (M = 18,96, SD = 1,12; 74,2% female). Social identity type (multiple, hierarchical, diffuse, egocentric) was assessed using the Group Identity Test (GIT) by Gudzovskaya and Myshkina. In the experiment, participants played a team-based game "Shipwreck" and were randomly assigned to win or loss conditions. Group identification was measured before and after the game using Leach's scale, adapted by E.R. Agadullina and A.V. Lovakov. A mixed ANOVA was conducted with between-subjects factors "Game Outcome" (3 levels) and "Identity Type" (4 levels), and a within-subjects factor "Time of Measurement" (pre- and post-intervention).
Results. Group identification increased both after loss and after win compared to the control group (as reflected in increased self-stereotyping, self-categorization, and involvement). No three-way interaction (Time × Outcome × Type) was found (p = 0,942): the effect of success/failure does not depend on identity type. However, participants with a diffuse identity type showed significantly greater gains in satisfaction, self-categorization, and involvement compared to those with a hierarchical type (p ≤ 0,010), confirming an independent contribution of identity type.
Conclusions. Loss activates defensive mechanisms that increase group identification; this effect is independent of identity type. The diffuse type is the most plastic and demonstrates the greatest increase in involvement and cognitive components of identification compared to the hierarchical type.

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