Who cares about groups? The Group Orientation Scale measures differences in the general motivation for group belonging and concern for group goals

Group and intergroup research often addresses the ways in which people care about a specific group but focuses less on caring about groups in general. Here, we investigate individual differences in how likely people are to join and invest in the groups to which they belong. This idea is related to collectivism, but collectivism measures have been plagued by theoretical and measurement weaknesses. We therefore developed a Group Orientation Scale and a Generalized Identification Scale to measure how much people care about groups, and test the scales’ predictive validity alongside related constructs. Both measures are reliable but the Group Orientation Scale items were found to be easier to comprehend. Furthermore, group orientation predicts identification with real and minimal groups, the intensity of emotional reactions to group concerns, contributions made in a public goods dilemma, intentions to engage in personal sacrifice to limit coronavirus infections, and motivation in group tasks.