Zero Sum Solidarity

Solidarity is a crucial component in addressing the inequalities that affect marginalized communities and form positive intergroup relations. However, there are discrepancies in when and how people extend their solidarity, potentially undermining collective efforts to improve the livelihood of various communities. The study aims to investigate two boundary conditions that may fracture solidarity extension: political ideology and zero-sum thinking. More specifically, how zero-sum thinking and political ideology may affect solidarity towards the Black community and the police force. This research advances our understanding of the specific psychological constructs that can drive intergroup solidarity, offering potential considerations for when people choose to extend or withhold their solidarity. Specifically, we propose the following research questions: Research Question 1: Is the relationship between perceptions of inequality and solidarity with different groups mediated by zero-sum thinking? Research Question 2: How does political ideology shape the association between perception of inequality and zero-sum thinking with different groups?