Scott A. Reid

Bio: Scott A. Reid is an academic researcher from University of California, Santa Barbara. The author has contributed to research in topics: Social identity theory & Ingroups and outgroups. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 40 publications receiving 2091 citations. Previous affiliations of Scott A. Reid include University of Queensland & Victoria University of Wellington.

Social Identity, Self-Categorization, and the Communication of Group Norms

Abstract: We articulate the role of norms within the social identity perspective as a basis for theorizing a number of manifestly communicative phenomena We describe how group norms are cognitively represented as context-dependent prototypes that capture the distinctive properties of groups The same process that governs the psychological salience of different prototypes, and thus generates group normative behavior, can be used to understand the formation, perception, and diffusion of norms, and also how some group members, for example, leaders, have more normative influence than others We illustrate this process across a number of phenomena and make suggestions for future interfaces between the social identity perspective and communication research We believe that the social identity approach represents a truly integrative force for the communication discipline

Uncertainty Reduction, Self-Enhancement, and Ingroup Identification

Abstract: Two experiments tested the prediction that uncertainty reduction and self-enhancement motivations have an interactive effect on ingroup identification. In Experiment 1 (N = 64), uncertainty and group status were manipulated, and the effect on ingroup identification was measured. As predicted, low-uncertainty participants identified more strongly with a high- than low-status group, whereas high-uncertainty participants showed no preference; and low-status group members identified more strongly under high than low uncertainty, whereas high-status group members showed no preference. Experiment 2 (N = 210) replicated Experiment 1, but with a third independent variable that manipulated how prototypical participants were of their group. As predicted, the effects obtained in Experiment 1 only emerged where participants were highly prototypical. Low prototypicality depressed identification with a low-status group under high uncertainty. The implications of these results for intergroup relations and the role of prototypicality in social identity processes are discussed.

Endorsement of distributively fair and unfair leaders in interpersonal and intergroup situations.

Abstract: Differences in the strength of endorsement for distributively fair and unfair leaders in interpersonal and intergroup situations were measured. Fair leaders were expected to receive stronger endorsements than unfair leaders in interpersonal situations. This difference, however, was expected to attenuate, if not reverse in intergroup situations when the unfairness favoured the ingroup. An attenuation effect obtained in Experiment 1 (N=49) using ad hoc groups in a laboratory setting. Attenuation and reversal effects obtained, respectively, in Experiments 2 (N=314) and 3 (N=213) using preexisting groups (students and New Zealanders, respectively) in a scenario setting. Fairness ratings followed patterns similar to leadership endorsements in Experiments 2 and 3. Finally, Experiment 3 showed a reversal in participants' private attitudes toward an issue about which the leader expressed an opinion. These data extend previous research on leadership endorsement and are consistent with predictions derived from Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Self‐Categorization Explanation for the Third‐Person Effect

Abstract: Three studies tested a self-categorization theory explanation for the third-person effect. In Study 1 (N = 49) undergraduate students judged the influence of the National Enquirer, Wall Street Journal, and TV show Friends on themselves, relative to low- and high-status outgroup members, and other undergraduate students. The profile of first- and third-person perceptions was largely consistent with predictions, and the size of the third-person effect decreased as perceived similarity to target others increased-but only for media that were normative for comparison others. Study 2 (N = 49) provided evidence for this process with different media and showed that the profile of first- and third-person perceptions matched closely with perceived norms of media consumption-but not the social desirability of those media. Study 3 (N = 64) showed that the third-person effect for the same media and target other shifts with the frame of reference in which the judgment is made. Taken together, the findings are consistent with self-categorization theory and difficult to reconcile with other explanations.

A Self-Categorization Explanation for the Hostile Media Effect

Abstract: The hostile media effect is a phenomenon in which partisans on both sides of an issue perceive neutral media reports to be biased against their side. Three experiments were performed to test a self-categorization explanation. In Experiment 1, the effect was amplified when partisan identity was salient and attenuated when a shared identity was salient. In Experiment 2, the effect manifested when the media source was an outgroup, but not an ingroup. In Experiment 3, an attack on Democrats was perceived as less biased when attributed to a Democrat than when attributed to a Republican. The effects in Experiments 2 and 3 were amplified by partisanship. The findings are consistent with self-categorization theory and difficult to reconcile with other explanations. Une explication de l’effet des medias hostiles basee sur l’autocategorisation Scott A. Reid L’effet des medias hostiles est un phenomene par lequel les partisans des deux cotes d’un enjeu percoivent des reportages mediatiques neutres comme etant biaises a l’encontre de leur position. Trois experiences ont analyse une explication basee sur l’autocategorisation. Dans l’experience 1, l’effet etait amplifie lorsque l’identite partisane etait saillante. L’effet etait attenue lorsqu’une identite partagee etait saillante. Dans l’experience 2, l’effet se manifestait lorsque la source mediatique etait exogroupe, mais pas endogroupe. Dans l’experience 3, une attaque sur les Democrates etait percue comme etant moins biaisee lorsqu’elle etait attribuee a un Democrate que lorsqu’elle etait attribuee a un Republicain. Les effets des experiences 2 et 3 etaient amplifies par l’esprit de parti. Les resultats sont conformes a la theorie de l’autocategorisation et difficiles a concilier avec d’autres explications. Mots cles: effet des medias hostiles, assimilation biaisee, identite sociale, autocategorisation, jugement social Selbstkategorisierung als Erklarungsansatz fur den Hostile-Media-Effekt Der Hostile-Media-Effekt ist ein Phanomen, bei dem Parteianhanger beider Seiten einen neutralen Medienbericht als gegen ihre Position gerichtet wahrnehmen. In drei Experimenten testeten wir Selbstkategorisierung als Erklarungsansatz dafur. Im ersten Experiment wurde der Effekt verstarkt, wenn die Parteilinie des Anhangers offensichtlich war und abgeschwacht, wenn eine gemeinsame Ausrichtung offensichtlich war. Die Wirkung verfestigte sich, wenn die Medienquelle eine Outgroup und keine Ingroup war (Experiment 2). Im dritten Experiment wurde ein Angriff auf die Demokraten als weniger tendenziell wahrgenommen, wenn dieser einem Demokraten im Vergleich zu einem Republikaner zugeschrieben wurde. Die Wirkungen in Experiment 2 und 3 verstarkten sich durch Zugehorigkeit zu einer Partei. Die Ergebnisse stehen im Einklang mit der Selbstkategorisierungstheorie und sich nur schwer mit anderen Erklarungsansatzen in Einklang zu bringen. Schlusselbegriffe: Hostile-Media-Effekt, tendenziose Assimilation, soziale Identitat, Selbstkategorisierung, soziale Bewertung Una Explicacion de la Auto-Categorizacion para el Efecto los Medios Hostiles Scott A. Reid University of California, Santa Barbara Resumen El efecto hostil de los medios es un fenomenos en el cual los partidarios de ambos lados de un asunto percibido como reporte neutral de los medios es prejuicioso en contra de su lado. 3 experimentos pusieron a prueba la explicacion de la auto-categorizacion. En el experimento 1, el efecto fue amplificado cuando la identidad de los partidarios fue mas notable y fue atenuada cuando la identidad compartida fue mas saliente. En el experimento 2, el efecto manifestado cuando la fuente de los medios era un grupo externo, pero no el propio grupo. En el experimento 3, un ataque a los Democratas fue percibido como menos tendencioso cuando fue atribuido a un Democrata que cuando fue atribuido a un Republicano. Los efectos de los experimentos 2 y 3 fueron amplificados por el partidismo. Los hallazgos fueron consistentes con la teoria de la auto-categorizacion y fueron dificiles de reconciliar con otras explicaciones. Palabras Claves: Efecto hostil de los medios, Asimilacion tendenciosa, Identidad social, Auto-categorizacion, Juzgamiento social.

Construal-Level Theory of Psychological Distance

Abstract: People are capable of thinking about the future, the past, remote locations, another person's perspective, and counterfactual alternatives. Without denying the uniqueness of each process, it is proposed that they constitute different forms of traversing psychological distance. Psychological distance is egocentric: Its reference point is the self in the here and now, and the different ways in which an object might be removed from that point-in time, in space, in social distance, and in hypotheticality-constitute different distance dimensions. Transcending the self in the here and now entails mental construal, and the farther removed an object is from direct experience, the higher (more abstract) the level of construal of that object. Supporting this analysis, research shows (a) that the various distances are cognitively related to each other, (b) that they similarly influence and are influenced by level of mental construal, and (c) that they similarly affect prediction, preference, and action.

Social Identity and Self-Categorization Processes in Organizational Contexts

Abstract: Although aspects of social identity theory are familiar to organizational psychologists, its elaboration, through self-categorization theory, of how social categorization and prototype-based depersonalization actually produce social identity effects is less well known. We describe these processes, relate self-categorization theory to social identity theory, describe new theoretical developments in detail, and show how these developments can address a range of organizational phenomena. We discuss cohesion and deviance, leadership, subgroup and sociodemographic structure, and mergers and acquisitions.

Power, approach, and inhibition. Власть, напористость и подавленность

Abstract: Статья посвящена вопросам влияния власти на поведение человека. Авторы рассматривают данные различных источников, в которых увеличение власти связывается с напористостью, а ее уменьшение - с подавленностью. Конкретно, власть ассоциируется с: а) позитивным аффектом; б) вниманием к вознаграждению и к свойствам других, удовлетворяющим личные цели; в) автоматической переработкой информации и резкими суждениями; г) расторможенным социальным поведением. Уменьшение власти, напротив, ассоциируется с: а) негативным аффектом; б) вниманием к угрозам и наказаниям, к интересам других и к тем характеристикам я, которые отвечают целям других; в) контролируемой переработкой информации и совещательным типом рассуждений; г) подавленным социальным поведением. Обсуждаются также последствия этих паттернов поведения, связанных с властью, и потенциальные модераторы.

Power, approach, and inhibition.

Abstract: This article examines how power influences behavior. Elevated power is associated with increased rewards and freedom and thereby activates approach-related tendencies. Reduced power is associated with increased threat, punishment, and social constraint and thereby activates inhibition-related tendencies. The authors derive predictions from recent theorizing about approach and inhibition and review relevant evidence. Specifically, power is associated with (a) positive affect, (b) attention to rewards, (c) automatic information processing, and (d) disinhibited behavior. In contrast, reduced power is associated with (a) negative affect; (b) attention to threat, punishment, others’ interests, and those features of the self that are relevant to others’ goals; (c) controlled information processing; and (d) inhibited social behavior. The potential moderators and consequences of these power-related behavioral patterns are discussed.

Human Nature and the Social Order

Abstract: “WHAT can men do, what do they do, and what do they want to do ?”—these are the uestions that Prof. Thorndike seeks to answer in a very comprehensive and elaborate treatise. His undertaking is inspired by the belief that man has the possibility of almost complete control of his fate if only he will be guided by science, and that his failures are attributable to ignorance or folly. The main approach is through biological psychology, but all the social sciences are appealed to and utilized in an effort to deal with the human problem as a whole. The relative immaturity of the sciences dealing with man is continually stressed, but it is claimed that they provide a body of facts and principles which are “far above zero knowledge”, and that even now they are capable of affording valuable guidance in the shaping of public policy. Human Nature and the Social Order By E. L. Thorndike. Pp. xx + 1020. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1940.) 18s. net.