Nested local, national, and global identities in the context of existential threat

Abstract

Although various theories on identity exist, each with its own vast literature, the extant research does not fully address change in nested identities in the presence of an existential threat – one that threatens both sub- and superordinate identity groups. Further, the identity literature lacks attention to workplace consequences of nested identity in the context of existential threat. We conducted a mixed-methods investigation to address these gaps. All data were collected in the presence of sub- and superordinate identity group threatening forces including Covid-19, supply chain disruptions, and social protests. In Study 1, we asked 27 adults working in the United States about their identification with their local community, nation, and world as a whole both pre-Covid and during the Summer of 2020. Their responses allowed us to develop a deeper understanding of how these nested identities changed in response to threat. In Study 2, we tested workplace implications of identification at each level by administering two surveys (separated by one month) to 337 adults working in Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States. Results supported global identification as a useful tool for coping with existential threat, as it showed a positive influence on both satisfaction and performance.