Local Origins: Context, Group Identity, and Politics of Place

Published date01 December 2018
Date01 December 2018
DOI10.1177/1065912918772933
Subject MatterArticles
https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912918772933
Political Research Quarterly
2018, Vol. 71(4) 960 –974
© 2018 University of Utah
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1065912918772933
journals.sagepub.com/home/prq
Article
Introduction
In-group identity is one of the most heavily relied upon
variables in understanding minority political behavior
and attitudes today (Pérez 2015a, 2015b; Sanchez 2006b;
Valenzuela and Michelson 2016; Vargas, Sanchez, and
Valdez 2017). Whether due to interest in linked fate after
the election of the first black president or the increase in
ethnic identity since the 2006 immigration rallies, politi-
cal scientists today are rightly fascinated with the rela-
tionships that group identity–related variables have in
understanding minority political participation (Sanchez
2006b; Valenzuela and Michelson 2016), policy prefer-
ences (Sanchez 2006a), and political attitudes (Pérez
2015a, 2015b). Despite these interests in group identity
as an independent variable, relatively little work has been
devoted to understanding where perceptions of in-group
identity come from and what explains variation in under-
lying levels of in-group identity, especially for groups
such as Latinos living in the United States. Although the
importance of group identity among minority groups in
the United States has been well established in political
science for some time, recent work in American politics
more broadly has promoted the importance of social
identities in explaining political attitudes and behaviors
(Achen and Bartels 2016; Green, Palmquist, and Schickler
2004; Mason 2015).
In this paper, I draw on social identity theory (Tajfel
and Turner 1979) and self-categorization theory (Turner
et al. 1987) to develop a psychological-based framework
that explains variation in perceptions of group identity
among Latinos living in the United States. I argue that
perceptions of in-group identity are explained by a psy-
chological process where group members are more likely
to identify with the group when that group is made salient
and accessible and offers certain psychological benefits
(Turner et al. 1987; Ethier and Deaux 1990, 1994). Group
salience, accessibility, and fit vary based on the degree of
exposure to ethnic stimuli in the local environmental and
social context. In contexts with greater ethnic stimuli, I
expect individuals to be more likely to identify with eth-
nic categories when compared with similarly situated
individuals in areas with fewer ethnic stimuli (Ethier and
Deaux 1994; Jiménez 2010).
I examine the association between three local environ-
mental and social ethnic stimuli and perceptions of group
identity: (1) ethnic density or the proportion of ethnic
772933PRQXXX10.1177/1065912918772933Political Research QuarterlyWilcox-Archuleta
research-article2018
1University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Corresponding Author:
Bryan Wilcox-Archuleta, Department of Political Science, University
of California, 4289 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Email: bwa@ucla.edu
Local Origins: Context,
Group Identity, and Politics of Place
Bryan Wilcox-Archuleta1
Abstract
In-group identity is particularly important in understanding political behavior among minority populations living in the
United States. Despite its importance, we know relativity little about what explains variation in perceptions of group
identity among U.S.-based minority groups. I develop a theoretical framework drawing extensively for social identity
theory to explain development of in-group identities among Latinos in the United States. I suggest the availability of
neighborhood-level ethnic stimuli increases the likelihood that Latinos will come to see themselves a part of pan-
ethnic group rather than a unique individual. I use the 2008 Collaborative Multi-Racial Political Survey (CMPS), a
nationally representative public opinion poll of registered voters with oversamples of Latino respondents. I find that
the availability of ethnic stimuli positively associates with stronger perceptions of group identity among Latinos. Latinos
who live in contexts rich with ethnic stimuli and cues are more likely to adopt in-group identities than those who live
in environments lacking ethnically salient resources.
Keywords
context, group identity, neighborhood, Latino politics

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT