A rich and continually growing literature recognizes that situational cues can spark identity-safety, or beliefs that one's ingroups are valued, even in the face of socially threatening information or environments. Though recent research demonstrates that these cues can vary widely in format and scope (e.g., people, policies, symbols), existing scholarship has yet to propose a comprehensive model delineating how various cues cultivate identity-safety. To address this gap, in the present talk, I introduce a pathways to identity-safety framework, noting that cues can foster identity-safety by 1) suggesting that the group's lived experiences are valued, 2) indicating that the group's characteristics and goals are valued, and 3) signaling that the group's core beliefs are valued. Throughout the talk, I discuss theoretical and empirical work demonstrating the importance of each pathway, as well as psychological mechanisms underscoring various situational cues. I will also emphasize how this framework can derive hypotheses specifically for multiply marginalized individuals. Notably, this framework allows cues to be multifaceted, with the potential to positively impact one pathway while having no impact or harming another, and I will present research exploring this possibility. I will end by considering the practical implications of this model and the consequences of removing beneficial cues from an organization.
- Psychology and Neuroscience