Effects of National Identity in Transnational Crises: Implications of Social Identity Theory for Attribution and Crisis Communications

Jonathan Borden

Abstract


This study addresses the current gap in international crisis communications literature by introducing principles of social identity theory into the existing body of crisis communications theory. Hypotheses were tested via an experimental examination of attribution, feelings of empathy, and organization evaluation in several scenarios. Analysis revealed that organizational nationality can offer some level of reputational protection but crisis location does not.


Keywords


crisis communications, international crisis, situational crisis communication theory, SCCT, attribution bias, fundamental attribution error, social identity, reputation management

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