“My Aim is True”: An Attribution-Identity Model of Ally Sincerity

Advantaged group allies have multiple motives for supporting equality, raising questions about their sincerity. We draw upon the covariation model of attributions (Kelley, 1973) to explain how disadvantaged group members make attributions about whether advantaged group “allies” are sincerely motivated to empower the disadvantaged group. We propose an Attribution-Identity Model of Sincerity (AIMS) which posits that disadvantaged group members view advantaged group members as sincere allies when they support equality in the presence of inhibitory and absence of facilitative causes, exceed expectations for the advantaged group, and provide support across time and contexts. Further, those who identify strongly with their disadvantaged group and perceive intergroup inequality as illegitimate are most motivated to ascertain the sincerity of advantaged group members’ allyship. AIMS suggests how members of disadvantaged groups seek to maximize benefits and minimize risks of advantaged group members’ allyship.