Just before the elections, the protesters disappeared from the streets - now it's clear why

A new study published for the first time in Ma'ariv examines what motivates people to protest, what makes them persist, and why the belief in victory is not enough. The study was based on two surveys of about 2,600 participants in the protest against the judicial overhaul in 2023. The findings show that a personal threat to one's self-perception and a sense of personal meaning are more central factors than the belief in the protest's effectiveness.

A new study published for the first time in Ma'ariv reveals what drives people to take to the streets, what makes them persist, and why the belief in victory is insufficient. The study was based on two real-time studies conducted during the protest against the judicial overhaul in 2023: one survey of 1,135 protesters and non-protesters, and a field study of 1,514 protesters. The findings indicate that agreement with the protest's goals is not enough to explain participation. One distinguishing factor is the extent to which participants experience the events as a personal threat to their self-perception. Another factor is the link between protest and self-esteem: the more participation provides a sense of meaning, belonging, and capability, the greater the involvement. An interesting finding concerns the gap between the decision to start protesting and the decision to persist: belief in the protest's effectiveness explains initial joining but not long-term persistence. Prof. Shulziner told Ma'ariv that the study suggests broadening the understanding of protests as an action with psychological and personal meaning.