Terri Mannarini | University of Salento (original) (raw)

Papers by Terri Mannarini

ijhssnet.com

The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements an... more The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements and deliberative democracy theory and practice. Explorative research on an Italian Social Forum has been carried out, aimed at: a) verifying the consistency and the correspondence between the construct of deliberative democracy and the interactive functioning of social fora; b) probing the factors underlying the "social psychology of protest" ; c) integrating the two domains at an empirical level. Results lack generalization but provide useful indications to renew the theoretical assumptions concerning the psychosocial processes involved in deliberative interaction and protest.

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) has been a focus of extensive research investigation.

Studies of political and civic engagement have revealed that different types of participatory beh... more Studies of political and civic engagement have revealed that different types of participatory behaviors exist. Relying on Ekman and Amnå's (Human Aff 22 :283-300, 2012) participation typology, we developed a new measure, the Participatory Behaviors Scale (PBS), to analyze four dimensions of participation: formal political participation, activism, civil participation and disengagement. As proposed by Ekman and Amnå, disengagement is a genuine and active style of participation. A study was conducted on a sample of community residents (N = 566) to examine the statistical validity and psychometric properties of the PBS. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the secondorder factor structure of PBS (composed of four first-order factors, i.e., disengagement, civil participation, formal political participation and activism) produced the most satisfactory fit indexes. The reliability and validity of the scale were verified. The scale was then tested on a second sample of voters. The methodological and theoretical implications are discussed, and further developments are outlined.

In this paper, some of the psychosocial aspects of participatory policy-making in Italy are analy... more In this paper, some of the psychosocial aspects of participatory policy-making in Italy are analyzed, with specific attention given to the relationship between internal agents (IAs) and external agents (EAs). Based both on a review of the documented Italian case studies in a variety of policy areas and on direct experience, three major issues are addressed: conflict, power and exclusion. It is argued that the majority of the problems that pertain to the relationship between IAs and EAs can be attributed to two comprehensive underlying dimensions that characterize all participatory policymaking processes, namely, the paradoxical nature of institutionalized participation and the tensive nature of social relationships. Implications for community work are discussed.

Community Development, 2012

The article presents two studies that address issues concerning the evaluation of public particip... more The article presents two studies that address issues concerning the evaluation of public participation. Study 1 aimed to validate two instruments for measuring the process (the Deliberative Process Perceived Quality Scale, composed of two factors: “dialogue” and “knowledge/understanding”) and the outcome (Outcome Rating Scale) of a specific participatory procedure, i.e. the Open Space Technology (OST). Study 2 explored whether the participants' evaluation of OST's process and outcome predicted the future involvement of citizens in the same type of practices. Participants (N = 471) were recruited during five OSTs held in Italy between January and October 2010. The results indicated that (a) “dialogue” and “knowledge/understanding” appeared as distinct mechanisms and (b) participants who experienced respectful and collaborative relationships, and who positively evaluated the results achieved, were more likely to repeat a similar experience in the future, irrespective of the associated cognitive gains. Implications for community development and empowerment processes are discussed.

Environmental Politics, 2011

Uses of the term NIMBY (‘not in my back yard’) were analysed in the three main Italian newspapers... more Uses of the term NIMBY (‘not in my back yard’) were analysed in the three main Italian newspapers between 1992 and 2008. In the first study, a content analysis of 231 articles containing the term NIMBY showed two main views of the issues raised: one, aligned with the conventional view, according to which protesters are mainly driven by parochialism, emotionalism and ignorance, and the other consistent with the most innovative literature on this issue, which presents NIMBY conflicts as struggles for justice and democracy. The second study, which adopted the discursive psychology perspective on the articles characterised by the co-occurrence of the words ‘NIMBY’ term and ‘protest’, confirmed those results. Overall, there are multiple and diverse portrayals of NIMBY conflicts in the Italian press; the idea that the press supports traditional views of such conflicts, is, in part, unfounded.

are met by each other in the community; and third, the desire to invest and contribute to both th... more are met by each other in the community; and third, the desire to invest and contribute to both the conservation and the innovation of such a collectivity. Research in PSOC has made progress in three directions: the development of evidence-based models and reliable measures, the testing of models and measures across different domains/targets, and the identification of associated outcomes.

Resumen: Inquiries into political identity and political identification partially search for answ... more Resumen: Inquiries into political identity and political identification partially search for answers to the questions, Who am I? The answers are usually treated as elements in a political perspective, the other major components being demands and expectations. It is argued that identification is not something which we voluntarily create and that it has deeper roots in the way we have been brought up and are motivated to behave politically.

The study aimed to show the relevance of two types of sense-making processes (ie cognitive and af... more The study aimed to show the relevance of two types of sense-making processes (ie cognitive and affective) in culture-based interventions. A hierarchical model based on a psychodynamic theoretical framework was tested. According to this model, a generalized affective meaning connoting the whole field of participants' experience would have a regulative, downward, and causal influence on the specific meanings related to the issues addressed by the intervention.

Riassunto In questa comunicazione presenteremo alcuni aspetti dell'impiego dei quotidiani nel con... more Riassunto In questa comunicazione presenteremo alcuni aspetti dell'impiego dei quotidiani nel contesto di una ricerca condotta sulla psicologia sociale della protesta, in specifico sul movimento nato in Val di Susa (Piemonte) per opporsi alla co-struzione della linea ferroviaria ad alta velocità (TAV). Alla base del progetto di ricerca c'era l'idea condivisa che, per ricostruire la complessità dell'oggetto di ricerca, fosse necessario ricorrere ad una pluralità di fonti.

Based on the Social Identity and Social Categorization Theory framework, this study investigated ... more Based on the Social Identity and Social Categorization Theory framework, this study investigated how identification with the physical component of a community (i.e., the place identity), the perception of a community (i.e., the ingroup) in terms of cohesion and entitativity, and the perception of one or more territorial communities as laying beyond a community's boundaries (i.e., the outgroup) affect a psychological sense of community (PSOC). A survey was conducted with 477 residents (55.1& female; aged 16-80 years) in the Salento region, Italy. The results showed that the more individuals identified with the spatial community, the more they felt connected to their fellow residents and the more satisfied they were with their social relationships. More importantly, the findings highlighted the contribution of ingroup-outgroup relationships on shaping PSOC, which suggests that determinants of PSOC should include both the internal identification processes and the processes that lead communities to behave towards other communities. C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Social and community psychologists have recently begun to investigate systematically the psycho-s... more Social and community psychologists have recently begun to investigate systematically the psycho-social variables underlying the emergence of social movements and the impact of protest on the larger community. If changes produced by collective action both at the individual level, such as increased social skills, self-efficacy or social identity, and at the collective level, such as increased political influence, collective efficacy, and collective identity, have been thoroughly investigated, less research has been conducted on the identification of the by-products of participation, the effects of citizen mobilization on the larger community, and potentially negative changes associated to protest. Based on a case study, the paper argues that protest can bring about remarkable changes in the local community in terms of empowerment and community development, but can also generate new conflicts and subtle forms of conformism.

The study explored the roles of commitment, emotional stress, and interpersonal relationships in ... more The study explored the roles of commitment, emotional stress, and interpersonal relationships in sustaining individuals' engagement in collective action. Two collective action cases, differing in duration, issue, and territorial rootedness, were analyzed. The processes underlying sustained engagement were probed in 32 semi-structured interviews conducted with anti-globalization activists (N=13) and opponents to a high-speed railroad (N=19). Our findings showed that collective action can be stressful but that there are proximal and distal factors that can counterbalance the disruption and sustain engagement. The proximal factors are embedded in the circumstances of involvement and concern interpersonal relationships, organizational mechanisms and the psychological interface between the individuals and the concrete collective action environment. The distal factors are related partly to the individual and partly to the broader community from which the individual absorbs general values and norms.

In light of collective action and community development research, this study aims at testing a mo... more In light of collective action and community development research, this study aims at testing a model of activist persistence that takes into account both individual and organizational levels. The proposed model predicted that commitment to a group/organization or its cause does affect an activists' persistence. This relationship is mediated by two variables, namely the individual-organization interface and stress management processes. The model was empirically tested through a path analysis on a sample of 278 (N = 278; 43.9% female) participants recruited among active members in a variety of community groups/organizations. The results supported the pattern described by the model, showing that commitment is a precursor to activists' persistence. However its direct impact is weaker than the impact exerted by stress levels and the fit between the individual and the group/organization. Applications for community development practice are discussed.

The aim of this paper is to review the history of community psychology in Italy. We begin by illu... more The aim of this paper is to review the history of community psychology in Italy. We begin by illustrating the early developments of community psychology in the seventies, which was a period of strong social change. The main part of the chapter is focused on the contribution of Italian scholars to the development of European perspectives in the field, and to the elaboration of theoretical principles that should guide community psychology interventions. Taking into account the construct of social representation, Italian community psychologists view the connections between psychological and social determinants of personal action and between individual and collective processes as the core features of the discipline. They have, therefore, given much attention to exploring the historical link between the process of valorization of individual freedoms and collective struggle; to promoting socio-political empowerment and social capital; and to examining the multiple meanings of community and sense of community. In the last part of the chapter, we outline the theoretical principles that guide some community psychology interventions such as community profiling, multidimensional organisational analysis, affective education and empowerment training which have been developed by Italian community psychologists. We conclude focusing on future opportunities and challenges.

The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements an... more The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements and deliberative democracy theory and practice. Explorative research on an Italian Social Forum has been carried out, aimed at: a) verifying the consistency and the correspondence between the construct of deliberative democracy and the interactive functioning of social fora; b) probing the factors underlying the "social psychology of protest" (Klandermans, 1997); c) integrating the two domains at an empirical level. Results lack generalization but provide useful indications to renew the theoretical assumptions concerning the psychosocial processes involved in deliberative interaction and protest.

 To highlight the rewards as well as the risks entailed in participatory community research.

This paper seeks to contribute to the debates about public involvement by suggesting how social p... more This paper seeks to contribute to the debates about public involvement by suggesting how social psychology concepts can contribute to the theorization of public deliberation and the empirical analysis of participatory settings. The article addresses the critical issues concerning the psychosocial processes underlying deliberative settings that result from the relationship between individuals and groups. Personality dispositions, cognitive processes, and group dynamics are discussed. Specifically, personality traits, the role of social value orientation, need for cognitive closure, and need for cognition presented. Regarding cognition, socio-cognitive conflict and framing processes are examined. Finally, as far as group dynamics is concerned, two manifestations of social influence are presented, namely, persuasion and polarization. The paper concludes by highlighting the theoretical and practical implications for the design, implementation and evaluation of public involvement practices.

ijhssnet.com

The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements an... more The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements and deliberative democracy theory and practice. Explorative research on an Italian Social Forum has been carried out, aimed at: a) verifying the consistency and the correspondence between the construct of deliberative democracy and the interactive functioning of social fora; b) probing the factors underlying the "social psychology of protest" ; c) integrating the two domains at an empirical level. Results lack generalization but provide useful indications to renew the theoretical assumptions concerning the psychosocial processes involved in deliberative interaction and protest.

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) has been a focus of extensive research investigation.

Studies of political and civic engagement have revealed that different types of participatory beh... more Studies of political and civic engagement have revealed that different types of participatory behaviors exist. Relying on Ekman and Amnå's (Human Aff 22 :283-300, 2012) participation typology, we developed a new measure, the Participatory Behaviors Scale (PBS), to analyze four dimensions of participation: formal political participation, activism, civil participation and disengagement. As proposed by Ekman and Amnå, disengagement is a genuine and active style of participation. A study was conducted on a sample of community residents (N = 566) to examine the statistical validity and psychometric properties of the PBS. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the secondorder factor structure of PBS (composed of four first-order factors, i.e., disengagement, civil participation, formal political participation and activism) produced the most satisfactory fit indexes. The reliability and validity of the scale were verified. The scale was then tested on a second sample of voters. The methodological and theoretical implications are discussed, and further developments are outlined.

In this paper, some of the psychosocial aspects of participatory policy-making in Italy are analy... more In this paper, some of the psychosocial aspects of participatory policy-making in Italy are analyzed, with specific attention given to the relationship between internal agents (IAs) and external agents (EAs). Based both on a review of the documented Italian case studies in a variety of policy areas and on direct experience, three major issues are addressed: conflict, power and exclusion. It is argued that the majority of the problems that pertain to the relationship between IAs and EAs can be attributed to two comprehensive underlying dimensions that characterize all participatory policymaking processes, namely, the paradoxical nature of institutionalized participation and the tensive nature of social relationships. Implications for community work are discussed.

Community Development, 2012

The article presents two studies that address issues concerning the evaluation of public particip... more The article presents two studies that address issues concerning the evaluation of public participation. Study 1 aimed to validate two instruments for measuring the process (the Deliberative Process Perceived Quality Scale, composed of two factors: “dialogue” and “knowledge/understanding”) and the outcome (Outcome Rating Scale) of a specific participatory procedure, i.e. the Open Space Technology (OST). Study 2 explored whether the participants' evaluation of OST's process and outcome predicted the future involvement of citizens in the same type of practices. Participants (N = 471) were recruited during five OSTs held in Italy between January and October 2010. The results indicated that (a) “dialogue” and “knowledge/understanding” appeared as distinct mechanisms and (b) participants who experienced respectful and collaborative relationships, and who positively evaluated the results achieved, were more likely to repeat a similar experience in the future, irrespective of the associated cognitive gains. Implications for community development and empowerment processes are discussed.

Environmental Politics, 2011

Uses of the term NIMBY (‘not in my back yard’) were analysed in the three main Italian newspapers... more Uses of the term NIMBY (‘not in my back yard’) were analysed in the three main Italian newspapers between 1992 and 2008. In the first study, a content analysis of 231 articles containing the term NIMBY showed two main views of the issues raised: one, aligned with the conventional view, according to which protesters are mainly driven by parochialism, emotionalism and ignorance, and the other consistent with the most innovative literature on this issue, which presents NIMBY conflicts as struggles for justice and democracy. The second study, which adopted the discursive psychology perspective on the articles characterised by the co-occurrence of the words ‘NIMBY’ term and ‘protest’, confirmed those results. Overall, there are multiple and diverse portrayals of NIMBY conflicts in the Italian press; the idea that the press supports traditional views of such conflicts, is, in part, unfounded.

are met by each other in the community; and third, the desire to invest and contribute to both th... more are met by each other in the community; and third, the desire to invest and contribute to both the conservation and the innovation of such a collectivity. Research in PSOC has made progress in three directions: the development of evidence-based models and reliable measures, the testing of models and measures across different domains/targets, and the identification of associated outcomes.

Resumen: Inquiries into political identity and political identification partially search for answ... more Resumen: Inquiries into political identity and political identification partially search for answers to the questions, Who am I? The answers are usually treated as elements in a political perspective, the other major components being demands and expectations. It is argued that identification is not something which we voluntarily create and that it has deeper roots in the way we have been brought up and are motivated to behave politically.

The study aimed to show the relevance of two types of sense-making processes (ie cognitive and af... more The study aimed to show the relevance of two types of sense-making processes (ie cognitive and affective) in culture-based interventions. A hierarchical model based on a psychodynamic theoretical framework was tested. According to this model, a generalized affective meaning connoting the whole field of participants' experience would have a regulative, downward, and causal influence on the specific meanings related to the issues addressed by the intervention.

Riassunto In questa comunicazione presenteremo alcuni aspetti dell'impiego dei quotidiani nel con... more Riassunto In questa comunicazione presenteremo alcuni aspetti dell'impiego dei quotidiani nel contesto di una ricerca condotta sulla psicologia sociale della protesta, in specifico sul movimento nato in Val di Susa (Piemonte) per opporsi alla co-struzione della linea ferroviaria ad alta velocità (TAV). Alla base del progetto di ricerca c'era l'idea condivisa che, per ricostruire la complessità dell'oggetto di ricerca, fosse necessario ricorrere ad una pluralità di fonti.

Based on the Social Identity and Social Categorization Theory framework, this study investigated ... more Based on the Social Identity and Social Categorization Theory framework, this study investigated how identification with the physical component of a community (i.e., the place identity), the perception of a community (i.e., the ingroup) in terms of cohesion and entitativity, and the perception of one or more territorial communities as laying beyond a community's boundaries (i.e., the outgroup) affect a psychological sense of community (PSOC). A survey was conducted with 477 residents (55.1& female; aged 16-80 years) in the Salento region, Italy. The results showed that the more individuals identified with the spatial community, the more they felt connected to their fellow residents and the more satisfied they were with their social relationships. More importantly, the findings highlighted the contribution of ingroup-outgroup relationships on shaping PSOC, which suggests that determinants of PSOC should include both the internal identification processes and the processes that lead communities to behave towards other communities. C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Social and community psychologists have recently begun to investigate systematically the psycho-s... more Social and community psychologists have recently begun to investigate systematically the psycho-social variables underlying the emergence of social movements and the impact of protest on the larger community. If changes produced by collective action both at the individual level, such as increased social skills, self-efficacy or social identity, and at the collective level, such as increased political influence, collective efficacy, and collective identity, have been thoroughly investigated, less research has been conducted on the identification of the by-products of participation, the effects of citizen mobilization on the larger community, and potentially negative changes associated to protest. Based on a case study, the paper argues that protest can bring about remarkable changes in the local community in terms of empowerment and community development, but can also generate new conflicts and subtle forms of conformism.

The study explored the roles of commitment, emotional stress, and interpersonal relationships in ... more The study explored the roles of commitment, emotional stress, and interpersonal relationships in sustaining individuals' engagement in collective action. Two collective action cases, differing in duration, issue, and territorial rootedness, were analyzed. The processes underlying sustained engagement were probed in 32 semi-structured interviews conducted with anti-globalization activists (N=13) and opponents to a high-speed railroad (N=19). Our findings showed that collective action can be stressful but that there are proximal and distal factors that can counterbalance the disruption and sustain engagement. The proximal factors are embedded in the circumstances of involvement and concern interpersonal relationships, organizational mechanisms and the psychological interface between the individuals and the concrete collective action environment. The distal factors are related partly to the individual and partly to the broader community from which the individual absorbs general values and norms.

In light of collective action and community development research, this study aims at testing a mo... more In light of collective action and community development research, this study aims at testing a model of activist persistence that takes into account both individual and organizational levels. The proposed model predicted that commitment to a group/organization or its cause does affect an activists' persistence. This relationship is mediated by two variables, namely the individual-organization interface and stress management processes. The model was empirically tested through a path analysis on a sample of 278 (N = 278; 43.9% female) participants recruited among active members in a variety of community groups/organizations. The results supported the pattern described by the model, showing that commitment is a precursor to activists' persistence. However its direct impact is weaker than the impact exerted by stress levels and the fit between the individual and the group/organization. Applications for community development practice are discussed.

The aim of this paper is to review the history of community psychology in Italy. We begin by illu... more The aim of this paper is to review the history of community psychology in Italy. We begin by illustrating the early developments of community psychology in the seventies, which was a period of strong social change. The main part of the chapter is focused on the contribution of Italian scholars to the development of European perspectives in the field, and to the elaboration of theoretical principles that should guide community psychology interventions. Taking into account the construct of social representation, Italian community psychologists view the connections between psychological and social determinants of personal action and between individual and collective processes as the core features of the discipline. They have, therefore, given much attention to exploring the historical link between the process of valorization of individual freedoms and collective struggle; to promoting socio-political empowerment and social capital; and to examining the multiple meanings of community and sense of community. In the last part of the chapter, we outline the theoretical principles that guide some community psychology interventions such as community profiling, multidimensional organisational analysis, affective education and empowerment training which have been developed by Italian community psychologists. We conclude focusing on future opportunities and challenges.

The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements an... more The paper focuses on two key domains: the psychosocial dynamics of protest in social movements and deliberative democracy theory and practice. Explorative research on an Italian Social Forum has been carried out, aimed at: a) verifying the consistency and the correspondence between the construct of deliberative democracy and the interactive functioning of social fora; b) probing the factors underlying the "social psychology of protest" (Klandermans, 1997); c) integrating the two domains at an empirical level. Results lack generalization but provide useful indications to renew the theoretical assumptions concerning the psychosocial processes involved in deliberative interaction and protest.

 To highlight the rewards as well as the risks entailed in participatory community research.

This paper seeks to contribute to the debates about public involvement by suggesting how social p... more This paper seeks to contribute to the debates about public involvement by suggesting how social psychology concepts can contribute to the theorization of public deliberation and the empirical analysis of participatory settings. The article addresses the critical issues concerning the psychosocial processes underlying deliberative settings that result from the relationship between individuals and groups. Personality dispositions, cognitive processes, and group dynamics are discussed. Specifically, personality traits, the role of social value orientation, need for cognitive closure, and need for cognition presented. Regarding cognition, socio-cognitive conflict and framing processes are examined. Finally, as far as group dynamics is concerned, two manifestations of social influence are presented, namely, persuasion and polarization. The paper concludes by highlighting the theoretical and practical implications for the design, implementation and evaluation of public involvement practices.