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Informed by Mugny's theorization on minority influence (Mugny, 1982; Mugny & Perez, 1991; Papastamou & Mugny, 1983), this paper discusses the ideological profile of the target of influence of a minority that does not challenge the system (such as extreme right-wing minorities), but confronts those held responsible for its disintegration. It is argued and empirically verified in a study with Greek participants (N = 333) that, in times of crisis and instability of the social order, people who believe in the core values of the system and who are frustrated by its disintegration support more extreme right-wing beliefs and violent practices than those who challenge the system or who are supporting it. The results highlight the ideological heterogeneity of the population to whom minority influence is addressed, which are discussed in the context of the rise of extreme right-wing beliefs in Greece and in Europe.

The present paper discusses the concept of identity in social psychology. It is suggested that identity is a particular form of social representation that mediates the relationship between the individual & the social world. Identity makes the link between social regulations & psychological organizations (ie, identifications/self-categories), & constitutes the organizing principle of symbolic relationships. Its functions are to inscribe the person in the social environment, to communicate peoples' positions, & to establish relationships with others (social recognition). Thus, identity is a cyclical process constituted by three actions: knowing, claiming, & recognizing. Social psychologists have started their investigations of identity by emphasizing different aspects of this process: self-knowledge, claims, & recognition & have focused on processes of socialization, communication, & social influence. Finally, it is argued that through their active participation in the social world (by knowing, recognizing, & claiming), individuals construct a set of knowledge about the world & themselves: their identity. To protect from, provoke, or respond to changes to this knowledge, people act in the name of identity. Thus, identity constitutes the social psychological context within which worldviews are constructed, through which these worldviews are communicated, & for which battles are fought. 1 Figure, 61 References. Adapted from the source document.

The present paper is concerned with the organizing principles of the representation people form about a superordinate category to which they belong. It is argued here that the social relations in the structural societal level play a crucial role in organizing people's representation of the superordinate category. These relations are reflected in their stereotypes. The representation of Europe in the context of the European integration is investigated through the study of the national and European stereotypes of an opportunistic sample of 64 French and 74 Greeks. The Multistage Investigator of Social Identity ( Zavalloni & Louis-Guerrin, 1984 ) was used to elicit these stereotypes. The analysis indicated that different representations emerge that tend to express the relations between subgroups and to refer to their perceived position within the superordinate group.

Political psychology constitutes a problem-oriented and interdisciplinary field (Staerkle, 2015). In fact, being born in the decades between the First and Second World Wars, it is intrinsically characterized by the concern to study and cope with social and political crises and their implications (Nesbitt-Larking & Kinnvall, 2012). Its theoretical tools and concepts were developed in order to cast light on phenomena such as mass psychology and collective action, racism, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism. The role of psychology in the study of these phenomena was, as Moscovici (1988) argued, not only necessary but also functional.

Political psychology constitutes a problem-oriented and interdisciplinary field (Staerkle, 2015). In fact, being born in the decades between the First and Second World Wars, it is intrinsically characterized by the concern to study and cope with social and political crises and their implications (Nesbitt-Larking & Kinnvall, 2012). Its theoretical tools and concepts were developed in order to cast light on phenomena such as mass psychology and collective action, racism, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism. The role of psychology in the study of these phenomena was, as Moscovici (1988) argued, not only necessary but also functional.

In recent years Greece has faced a terrible economic crisis that became social, political and humanitarian and challenged its relationship with the European Union. In this paper, through a survey research with an opportunity sample of Greek people (N = 739) of different ages and professions, we investigate whether participants' image of the relationship between Greece and the EU relates to their agreement with a) harsh austerity and decrease of national sovereignty, b) decrease of the public sector and c) Grexit measures. We hypothesized and observed that this relationship is mediated by beliefs about norms of justice and beliefs of individual mobility and relative position. In particular, a positive relationship between Greece and EU predicts agreement with harsh austerity and decrease of the public sector through justice beliefs of equity whereas the relationship with Grexit is not mediated by beliefs about norms of justice. In addition, perceiving the GR-EU relationship as a relationship of domination predicts the different measures through feelings of personal or relational relative position. Legitimation of a relationship of domination and acceptance of harsh measures is observed the less people feel relatively deprived personally in comparison to their past position or in comparison to others, whereas this relationship with Grexit is observed the more relative relational deprivation is felt. These results highlight that perception of asymmetric relationships and status (at an individual or group level) between the national group and the EU and distribution of resources should be taken into account when discussing measures to combat the crisis.

This research was conducted in Greece during a period of major economic crisis when everyday events contributed to a changing and threatening socio-political environment. The paper looks at the structure of reactions Greek people (N=1040) have towards the crisis. Informed by social psychological theories of collective action and relative deprivation it is hypothesized that these reactions would depend on people's actual financial position, their sense of grievances and feelings of vulnerability and the emotions they felt towards the crisis. Results show that people have multiple ways of reacting that go from radical and even violent practices towards individual solutions and depression. These reactions are differently predicted by people's position, feelings of vulnerability and sense of grievances and by different emotions. It is not people's actual position that influences reactions and feelings of vulnerability are a major predictor. Moreover, sense of grievances are linked to more radical forms of action but also to depression. Emotions play an important role in predicting reactions to the crisis. Anger is confirmed as a predictor of political participation and collective action whereas fear and frustration are a major predictor of depression. Positive emotions also predict collective action with the exception of violent practices.

This study explores identification with one's national group using two distinct but interrelated concepts: identity content & relational orientation. Theoretical distinctions were drawn between two forms of identity content: traditional-cultural & civic, & between two forms of relational orientation: blind & constructive. The multidimensionality of both identity content & relational orientation & the relationships amongst these components were examined in a British sample: positive relationships were hypothesized between blind orientation & traditional-cultural content & between constructive orientation & civic content. Principal components analyses confirmed the hypothesized factor structures, & the resulting scales were highly reliable. Relationships among the resulting factors were explored using regression analyses. The overall results indicate support for the orthogonality of both the two orientation dimensions & the two content dimensions. Moreover, the hypothesized relationships between forms of orientation & content were largely supported. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of looking at the relationship between identity content & relational orientation. The implications of these observations for theory & research are discussed with reference to using categories to "group" participants in research, citizenship education, & more general attitudes toward social change. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix, 32 References. Adapted from the source document.