What are some motivating factors that prompt an individual to activate an identity and take action?

The article, Group Entitlement, Anger, and Participation in Intergroup Violence by Christopher Claassen, utilizes a "bottom approach" to examine why ordinary members of a group may incite violence. Classen centers this question around the frameworks of group entitlements and deservingness. He suggests that anger acts as the medium for groups to move from discontent to violence. In practice and put simply, this means that when a group feels like they are not receiving the entitlements, they deserve they become angry, and this emotional response leads to a confrontation with other groups. In this case, anger and group entitlements represent triggers for the formation of strong group identity and subsequent violence. 

A photograph of the Alexandra township

The survey upon which this article is based on tests subjects from Alexandra, a township in South Africa. This area was chosen in particular as tensions surrounding immigration have been present here for some time. Additionally, actual intergroup violence has been observed here. Narrative accounts referenced by the study explain that disorder is believed to occur due to the intense competition for jobs and housing. This can be seen as representing the author's suggestion that entitlements can drive anger and conflict. 

Further, a significant prerequisite for collective violence is the identification of particular individuals into separate groups willing to fight one another. The perpetrators and victims of this intergroup violence are both civilians, and the act of intergroup violence is very costly for both parties. This adds challenges to the initiation of collective action.

The researchers of this study use anger as a tool to explain this communal participation as this emotion, when exercised by individuals on behalf of their identity group, can trigger a confrontation. Emotions, in general, can act as a powerful motivator prompting an individual to activate an identity. We can recognize this correlation as we have observed that identities commonly converge around social issues that evoke strong emotions. It is difficult to determine, however, whether social issues drive strong sentiments and, thus, the activation of identity or the other way around. 

If we extend the findings of the discussed study in South Africa to be reflective of a broader trend in the activation of identity, then strong emotions such as anger at another group or institution give individuals the motivation to act under collective identity groups. I accept this as one possible mechanism, among many, for activating identity. On a global scale, I believe many more motivating factors, such as upbringing, allegiance to specific regimes, economic drivers, and social constraints, can lead to the activation of an identity. The social, political, and economic climate of identity varies significantly across communities, and thus it is impossible to say that the Alexandra township is universally representative. The framework analysis present throughout this study does provide us with powerful guidance that may influence our frameworks of assessment. Although it is not the only motivator, emotion holds a strong influence on identity, and it is useful to study its presence in identity activation. 

CHRISTOPHER CLAASSEN. 2014. "Group Entitlement, Anger, and Participation in Intergroup Violence." Cambridge University Press: 127–148.