Perceiving people as a group: Diversity and its interpretation at the Muslim Pilgrimage of the Hajj

TY - JOUR

T1 - Perceiving people as a group

T2 - Diversity and its interpretation at the Muslim Pilgrimage of the Hajj

AU - Yalcin, Enes

AU - Hopkins, Nicholas

N1 - © 2026 The Author(s).

PY - 2026/3/22

Y1 - 2026/3/22

N2 - Group behaviour depends on people categorising themselves and others in terms of a shared social identity. Experimental research addressing perceptions of entitativity (i.e., seeing people as a unified entity) highlights the importance of judgements concerning people's behavioural (dis)similarities. We complement such experimental research with an analysis of interview data in which we explore how participants (N = 40) attending a culturally diverse religious gathering (the Hajj) interpreted the meaning of their (dis)similarities (e.g., in terms of their cultural origin language, religious practice, social behaviour). Our analysis shows participants' religious identity provided the vantage point from which such diversities (and their implications) were interpreted. Moreover, we show that the recognition of diversity need not undermine perceptions of entitativity. Indeed, we found that many features of diversity could be interpreted positively (i.e., as identity-congruent) and as contributing to participants' sense of connection with other attendees. We also found that examples of diversity which could potentially undermine such a sense of connection were interpreted in ways that helped maintain a sense of shared pilgrim identity. The methodological, analytical and practical implications of our findings for research into the experience of diversity and group membership are discussed.

AB - Group behaviour depends on people categorising themselves and others in terms of a shared social identity. Experimental research addressing perceptions of entitativity (i.e., seeing people as a unified entity) highlights the importance of judgements concerning people's behavioural (dis)similarities. We complement such experimental research with an analysis of interview data in which we explore how participants (N = 40) attending a culturally diverse religious gathering (the Hajj) interpreted the meaning of their (dis)similarities (e.g., in terms of their cultural origin language, religious practice, social behaviour). Our analysis shows participants' religious identity provided the vantage point from which such diversities (and their implications) were interpreted. Moreover, we show that the recognition of diversity need not undermine perceptions of entitativity. Indeed, we found that many features of diversity could be interpreted positively (i.e., as identity-congruent) and as contributing to participants' sense of connection with other attendees. We also found that examples of diversity which could potentially undermine such a sense of connection were interpreted in ways that helped maintain a sense of shared pilgrim identity. The methodological, analytical and practical implications of our findings for research into the experience of diversity and group membership are discussed.

KW - diversity

KW - entitativity

KW - Hajj

KW - mass gathering

KW - shared identity

U2 - 10.1002/casp.70251

DO - 10.1002/casp.70251

M3 - Article

SN - 1052-9284

VL - 36

JO - Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

JF - Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

IS - 2

M1 - e70251

ER -