Traditionally Advantaged Group Members’ Affective and Physiological Responses to Social Change

Abstract: Across four studies, we examined how traditionally advantaged group members respond to societal changes emotionally and in terms of collective action tendencies supporting the disadvantaged group. In two studies, we also used a novel technology to extract heart rate from webcam images as an index of participants’ engagement while reflecting on social change or stability. When social change (vs. stability) was made salient, participants reported less distress and less negative self-focused emotions, which mediated lower collective action tendencies. There were also signs of lower physiological engagement under conditions of change (vs. stability). We conclude that social change does not always trigger threat among members of advantaged groups but that—ironically—this can also undermine their engagement in realizing (further) change.