From who we are to what we are willing to do for social change: The action-bound role of efficacy perceptions

Two cross-sectional studies conducted in Chile (Study 1, N = 587) and Italy (Study 2, N = 438) investigated the action-bound role of perceived efficacy in explaining the association between politicized (Studies 1 and 2) and non-politicized identity (Study 2) with normative and non-normative collective action (CA) intentions. We comparatively explored different efficacy perceptions: internal locus of control (i.e., individual agency), group efficacy (i.e., ingroup agency), normative and non-normative collective action efficacy (i.e., action efficacy). Both identity types were positively associated with normative CA intentions via increased perceptions of group and normative CA efficacy (Studies 1–2). Regarding non-normative CA intentions, beyond observing positive associations with politicized identity via increased group (Study 1) and non-normative CA efficacy (Study 1–2), we also found a negative indirect effect of politicized identity via increased normative CA efficacy (Study 1) and a negative indirect effect of non-politicized identity via decreased non-normative CA efficacy (Study 2). These findings highlight the key role of efficacy perceptions in translating identity into action, emphasizing both group agency and the perceived efficacy of specific forms of action. Moreover, they suggest that the type of social identity can promote or inhibit more radical forms of CA, shaping pathways to social change.