collective resistance
Definition
Collective resistance refers to coordinated action by members of multiple stigmatized groups working together to challenge societal injustice and oppose threats such as ethno-nationalism. Stigma-based solidarity—the expectation that marginalized groups will demonstrate mutual support and loyalty toward one another—forms a psychological foundation for such resistance. However, collective resistance remains fragile; when members of marginalized groups violate expectations for cross-group solidarity through defection or failure to support allied groups, feelings of betrayal emerge that reduce trust and weaken future cooperation, thereby undermining the coalitional capacity needed to sustain resistance.
Sources: Shackleford et al. (2026)
Related Terms
Applications
Collective Resistance and Stigma-based Solidarity Betrayal
Violations of expectations for stigma-based solidarity—when members of marginalized groups fail to support allied marginalized groups—produce feelings of betrayal that directly undermine collective resistance efforts. Betrayal reduces trust in and decreases willingness to cooperate with the betraying outgroup, which weakens the cross-group political alliances essential to challenging societal injustice.
Sources: Shackleford et al. (2026)
Collective Resistance and Trust
Trust operates as a mechanism linking solidarity expectations to collective resistance capacity; when marginalized group members perceive betrayal by allied groups, trust declines, which in turn reduces collective solidarity intentions. Lower trust following betrayal diminishes the cohesion necessary for sustained, coordinated resistance.
Sources: Shackleford et al. (2026)
