From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Kenan Alparslan; Hüseyin Alataş

doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1909753

TR EN

This study investigates boycott behavior toward Israeli products in Türkiye through the lens of the Social Identity Model of Collective Action. Rather than treating boycott as an individual consumption decision, the study conceptualizes it as a form of collective action shaped by social identity, responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy beliefs. Data were collected from 258 participants residing in Türkiye through an online survey and analyzed using path analysis. The results indicate that identification with Muslim identity is associated with boycott behavior both directly and indirectly. Stronger identification was associated with greater attribution of responsibility to Israel, which was associated with higher perceptions of injustice. Perceived injustice was linked to boycott behavior through emotional processes involving empathy and anger, which were also associated with stronger beliefs in group efficacy. In contrast, attributing responsibility to Palestine was negatively associated with perceived injustice and boycott behavior, suggesting an alternative cognitive pattern associated with lower boycott participation. Overall, the findings indicate a pattern of associations in which identity-based interpretations, responsibility attributions, moral emotions, and efficacy beliefs were linked to boycott participation in a third-party conflict context.

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de İsrail ürünlerine yönelik boykot davranışını Sosyal Kimlik Temelli Kolektif Eylem Modeli bağlamında incelemektedir. Çalışmada boykot, bireysel bir tüketim kararı olarak ele alınmak yerine; sosyal kimlik, sorumluluk yükleme, algılanan adaletsizlik, grup temelli duygular ve grup etkililiği inançlarıyla ilişkili bir kolektif eylem biçimi olarak kavramsallaştırılmıştır. Veriler, Türkiye’de yaşayan 258 katılımcıdan çevrimiçi anket aracılığıyla toplanmış ve yol analizi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, Müslüman kimliğiyle özdeşleşmenin boykot davranışıyla hem doğrudan hem de dolaylı olarak ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Daha güçlü özdeşleşme, İsrail’e daha fazla sorumluluk yüklenmesiyle ilişkili bulunmuş; bu durum da daha yüksek düzeyde algılanan adaletsizlikle ilişkilendirilmiştir. Algılanan adaletsizlik, empati ve öfkeyi içeren duygusal süreçler aracılığıyla boykot davranışıyla ilişkili bulunmuş; bu duygular aynı zamanda daha güçlü grup etkililiği inançlarıyla da ilişkili olmuştur. Buna karşılık, sorumluluğun Filistin’e yüklenmesi, algılanan adaletsizlik ve boykot davranışıyla negative yönde ilişkili bulunmuş; bu durum boykota katılım eğilimini azaltan alternatif bir bilişsel örüntüye işaret etmiştir. Genel olarak bulgular, üçüncü taraf bir çatışma bağlamında kimlik temelli yorumların, sorumluluk yüklemelerinin, ahlaki duyguların ve etkililik inançlarının boykot katılımıyla ilişkili olduğu bir örüntü ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

sosyal kimlik, kolektif eylem, boykot davranışı, sorumluluk atfı, grup temelli duygular, İsrail–Filistin çatışması

From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Abstract

This study investigates boycott behavior toward Israeli products in Türkiye through the lens of the Social Identity Model of Collective Action. Rather than treating boycott as an individual consumption decision, the study conceptualizes it as a form of collective action shaped by social identity, responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy beliefs. Data were collected from 258 participants residing in Türkiye through an online survey and analyzed using path analysis. The results indicate that identification with Muslim identity is associated with boycott behavior both directly and indirectly. Stronger identification was associated with greater attribution of responsibility to Israel, which was associated with higher perceptions of injustice. Perceived injustice was linked to boycott behavior through emotional processes involving empathy and anger, which were also associated with stronger beliefs in group efficacy. In contrast, attributing responsibility to Palestine was negatively associated with perceived injustice and boycott behavior, suggesting an alternative cognitive pattern associated with lower boycott participation. Overall, the findings indicate a pattern of associations in which identity-based interpretations, responsibility attributions, moral emotions, and efficacy beliefs were linked to boycott participation in a third-party conflict context.

Keywords

social identity, collective action, boycott behavior, responsibility attribution, group-based emotions, Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Muş Alparslan University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (03.12.2025–222368), and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Social Cognition

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Kenan Alparslan ^*
0000-0001-6701-355X
Türkiye

Hüseyin Alataş This is me
0009-0003-2147-9567
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 2, 2026

Submission Date

March 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 23 Number: 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1909753

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA44CG84SF

APA

Alparslan, K., & Alataş, H. (2026). From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 23(2026), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1909753

AMA

1.Alparslan K, Alataş H. From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. OPUS JSR. 2026;23(2026):1-17. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1909753

Chicago

Alparslan, Kenan, and Hüseyin Alataş. 2026. “From Identity to Boycott: Responsibility Attribution, Perceived Injustice, Group-Based Emotions, and Group Efficacy in Third-Party Responses to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 (2026): 1-17. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1909753.

EndNote

Alparslan K, Alataş H (June 1, 2026) From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 2026 1–17.

IEEE

[1]K. Alparslan and H. Alataş, “From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict”, OPUS JSR, vol. 23, no. 2026, pp. 1–17, June 2026, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1909753.

ISNAD

Alparslan, Kenan - Alataş, Hüseyin. “From Identity to Boycott: Responsibility Attribution, Perceived Injustice, Group-Based Emotions, and Group Efficacy in Third-Party Responses to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23/2026 (June 1, 2026): 1-17. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1909753.

JAMA

1.Alparslan K, Alataş H. From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. OPUS JSR. 2026;23:1–17.

MLA

Alparslan, Kenan, and Hüseyin Alataş. “From Identity to Boycott: Responsibility Attribution, Perceived Injustice, Group-Based Emotions, and Group Efficacy in Third-Party Responses to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, vol. 23, no. 2026, June 2026, pp. 1-17, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1909753.

Vancouver

1.Kenan Alparslan, Hüseyin Alataş. From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. OPUS JSR. 2026 Jun. 1;23(2026):1-17. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1909753

Abstract

Keywords

From identity to boycott: Responsibility attribution, perceived injustice, group-based emotions, and group efficacy in third-party responses to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Abstract

Keywords

Ethical Statement

References

Details

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Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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