Showing papers in "Group Processes & Intergroup Relations in 2003"
TL;DR: This paper reviewed the history of the development of the Contact Hypothesis, and examined recent developments in this area, including conditions that are required for successful contact to occur, investigated basic psychological processes that may mediate the consequent reductions in bias, and explored factors that can facilitate the generalization of the benefits of intergroup contact in terms of more positive attitudes toward the outgroup as a whole (e.g. increased group salience).
Abstract: The Contact Hypothesis has long been considered one of psychology’s most effective strategies for improving intergroup relations. In this article, we review the history of the development of the Contact Hypothesis, and then we examine recent developments in this area. Specifically, we consider the conditions that are required for successful contact to occur (e.g. cooperation), investigate basic psychological processes that may mediate the consequent reductions in bias (e.g. decreased intergroup anxiety, increased common group representations), and explore factors that can facilitate the generalization of the benefits of intergroup contact in terms of more positive attitudes toward the outgroup as a whole (e.g. increased group salience). We conclude by outlining the contents of the contributions to this Special Issue on Intergroup Contact, highlighting common themes, and identifying findings that suggest directions for future research.
696 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated intergroup contact with immigrants in Italy and found that contact had direct positive effects on perceived outgroup variability and outgroup attitude, an effect that was not observed in other studies.
Abstract: Two studies investigated intergroup contact with immigrants in Italy. In Study 1 (N = 310 students) contact had direct positive effects on perceived out-group variability and out-group attitude, an...
583 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that students who exhibited more ingroup bias and inter-group bias exhibited more intergroup bias and were more likely to identify as white, Asian, Latino, and African American.
Abstract: Data for this longitudinal study were collected from over 2000 White, Asian, Latino, and African American college students. Results indicated that students who exhibited more ingroup bias and inter...
423 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined dyadic interactions between Whites and Blacks and found that Whites who tried not to be prejudiced experienced more anxiety and enjoyed the interaction less, but were liked more by their Black partner.
Abstract: Dyadic interactions between Whites and Blacks were examined. Whites' concern about appearing prejudiced was manipulated by informing Whites that it was extremely important not to be prejudiced during the interaction. Blacks' concern about being the target of prejudice was manipulated by informing them that their dyadic partner was prejudiced against Blacks. The findings show that these two concerns differentially impacted individuals' own and their partner's experiences in the interaction. Specifically, Whites who tried not to be prejudiced experienced more anxiety and enjoyed the interaction less, but were liked more by their Black partner. Additionally, Blacks who believed their partner was prejudiced enjoyed the interaction more, and their White partner experienced less anxiety and enjoyed the interaction more. The implications of these findings for interpersonal intergroup encounters are discussed.
267 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that respondents from East Germany consistently show higher levels of ethnic prejudice than respondents from West Germany, and the hypothesis that this difference can be largely explained by contrasting interethnic contact opportunities and experiences is tested and supported.
Abstract: Surveys show that respondents from East Germany consistently show higher levels of ethnic prejudice than respondents from West Germany. Comparable differences can be found in statistics on crimes and violence against ethnic minority members. On the basis of three surveys (ALLBUS, 1996, N = 2893; Shell Youth Study (Deutsche Shell), 2000, N = 3560; and our own survey of school students, N = 769), the hypothesis that this difference can be largely explained by contrasting interethnic contact opportunities and experiences is tested and supported. Demographic data show that living in the Eastern or Western part of Germany offers differential opportunities for contact with foreigners. Structural equation analyses reveal that this difference, in turn, influences the number of foreigners in the neighborhood or classroom. As a consequence of these varying opportunities for contact, respondents report marked differences in more intimate and personal contact—such as having foreign friends or experiencing contact of personal importance. Foreign friends and importance of contact proved to be the relevant proximal contact variables that reduce ethnic prejudice. Beyond the German context, these results point to a more inclusive model of intergroup relations.
229 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an action research approach for improving intergroup relations and participation in diverse societies compels us to understand the requisite values and skills for such participation, and the action research approa...
Abstract: Current attention on improving intergroup relations and participation in diverse societies compels us to understand the requisite values and skills for such participation. An action research approa...
196 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that exposure to prejudice can negatively affect group members' emotional states in intergroup contexts, and can lead them to feel more negatively toward interactions with both a single, prejudiced outgroup member, and with outgroup members in general.
Abstract: This research concerns the effects of prejudice on how members of devalued groups feel toward intergroup contact. With members of laboratory-generated groups (Study 1) and devalued ethnic groups (Study 2), two experimental studies tested the impact of exposure to prejudice on emotional states and feelings toward cross-group interactions. Results suggest that exposure to prejudice can negatively affect group members' emotional states in intergroup contexts, and can lead them to feel more negatively toward interactions with both a single, prejudiced outgroup member, and with outgroup members in general. Implications of the findings and suggested directions for future research are discussed.
177 citations
TL;DR: A longitudinal field study examined Pettigrew's (1998) intergroup contact theory and Gaertner et al. (2000) Common Ingroup Identity Model (CIIM) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A longitudinal field study examined Pettigrew’s (1998) intergroup contact theory and Gaertner et al.’s (2000) Common Ingroup Identity Model (CIIM). In Pettigrew’s model, the contact-prejudice relat...
151 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined whether African Americans who attribute negative events to discrimination incur interpersonal costs, such as being viewed as troublemakers, and found that African American job candidates who attributed a rejection to discrimination were perceived as more of a troublemaker (e.g. hypersensitive, irritating) than an African American who attributed rejection either to his interviewing skills or to job competition.
Abstract: This experiment examines whether African Americans who attribute negative events to discrimination incur interpersonal costs, such as being viewed as troublemakers. An African American job candidate who attributed a rejection to discrimination was perceived as more of a troublemaker (e.g. hypersensitive, irritating) than an African American who attributed rejection either to his interviewing skills or to job competition. This devaluation occurred even when discrimination was blatant, such as when the employer made old-fashioned racist statements (e.g. `Black people are just not as smart as White people'). This suggests that members of stigmatized groups may be reluctant to publicly acknowledge being the target of discrimination because it is socially costly to do so.
143 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the association between negotiation outcomes and mental models, as measured by negotiators' associative networks, and found that negotiators who reached optimal settlements had mental models that reflected greater understanding of the negotiation's payoff structure, and of the processes of trading and exchanging information, compared to negotiators who did not reach optimal settlements.
Abstract: Negotiation can be conceptualized as a problem-solving enterprise in which mental models guide behavior. We examined the association between negotiation outcomes and mental models, as measured by negotiators’ associative networks. Four hypotheses were supported. First, negotiators who reached optimal settlements had mental models that reflected greater understanding of the negotiation’s payoff structure, and of the processes of trading and exchanging information, compared to negotiators who did not reach optimal settlements. Second, negotiators who reached optimal settlements exhibited greater within-dyad mental model similarity. Third, experience-based training was more likely than instruction-based training to produce mental models similar to the mental models of negotiators who actually reached optimal settlements. Finally, negotiators who received 10 weeks of experience-based training had mental models that were similar to novice negotiators who reached optimal settlements, except that the mental models of the experienced negotiators were more abstract.
88 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the relationship between generalized anti-egalitarianism and the choice of hierarchyenhancing (HE) and hierarchy-attenuating (HA) college majors and future careers, and found that students with high levels of anti-egregiousness were more likely to choose HE college majors, while students with relatively low levels of generalized antiegregressive attitudes were more inclined to choose HA college majors.
Abstract: Using vocational choice and social dominance theories as organizing frameworks, and employing data from a five-wave longitudinal study of undergraduates, we explored the relationship between generalized anti-egalitarianism, on the one hand, and the choice of hierarchy-enhancing (HE) and hierarchy-attenuating (HA) college majors and future careers on the other hand. Consistent with theoretical expectations, the data showed that students with high levels of anti-egalitarianism were more likely to choose HE college majors and future careers, while students with relatively low levels of generalized anti-egalitarianism were more likely to choose HA college majors and future careers. Congruent students (high antiegalitarianism/HE majors and low anti-egalitarianism/HA majors) enjoyed greater academic success, and greater expectations of academic success than incongruent students (high antiegalitarianism/HA majors and low anti-egalitarianism/HE majors). Finally, we explored three processes possibly responsible fo...
TL;DR: For instance, the authors found that participants reported greater anxiety in imagined interactions with a gay than a heterosexual person, but only if the person was of the same gender, and this anxiety was especially strong for participants who were high in prejudice, had less prior contact with gays, or were high-wing Authoritarianism.
Abstract: Theory suggests that individuals who are more prejudiced or who have had less intergroup contact are more likely to experience intergroup anxiety. Although prior research has supported those proposals, it is weakened by the use of abstract (and therefore often ambiguous) intergroup encounters. The present research provided better evidence by measuring participants' anxiety in well-specified situations. This research also extended past work by studying intergroup anxiety in the context of groups defined by sexual orientation. Study 1 participants reported greater anxiety in imagined interactions with a gay than a heterosexual person, but only if the person was of the same gender. This anxiety was especially strong for participants who were high in prejudice, had less prior contact with gays, or were high in Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Study 2 provided a partial replication of these results when participants were anticipating a real interaction.
TL;DR: The authors compared the effect of computer mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude change and found that CMC results in behavior that is more in line with the salient level of self-categorization (compared to non-anonymous communication): salient social identity should lead to conformity to group norms whereas salient personal identity was expected to result in behaviour that fits individual goals.
Abstract: The current research compared the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude change. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (Spears & Lea, 1994) predicts that CMC results in behavior that is more in line with the salient level of self-categorization (compared to non-anonymous communication): in CMC salient social identity should lead to conformity to group norms whereas salient personal identity was expected to result in behavior that fits individual goals. Two experiments showed that when personal identity was salient and when social identity was salient and a category norm was explicitly given, CMC led to the predicted effects, whereas the lack of a social category norm led to lower attitude change in CMC compared to direct communication.
TL;DR: The authors argue that the two different components of group perceptions, namely group evaluations and perceptions of group variability, are affected by intergroup contact in rather different ways. Consistencies of these two components have been found in the literature.
Abstract: We argue that the two different components of group perceptions, namely group evaluations and perceptions of group variability, are affected by intergroup contact in rather different ways. Consiste...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored men's and women's attachment to groups and found that women's social needs tend to be express more clearly through social media than men's social need.
Abstract: In the current investigation, we studied sex differences in belonging needs by exploring men's and women's attachment to groups. Previous work has shown that women's social needs tend to be express...
TL;DR: Brown et al. as discussed by the authors found that the intergroup competition was not accompanied by performance matching within the dyads, and they attempted to replicate this result with interactive dyads and introduced an outgroup in order to shift competition from the interpersonal to intergroup level.
Abstract: Performance matching due to social comparison has been proposed as one explanation for the observed productivity loss in group brainstorming (Brown & Paulus, 1996; Paulus & Dzindolet, 1993). According to Festinger (1954), however, social comparison should not lead to performance matching but rather to competition. In our first experiment, we tested this hypothesis for a coactive situation and found enhanced performance due to interpersonal competition but no performance matching. In the second experiment, we attempted to replicate this result with interactive dyads and introduced an outgroup in order to shift competition from the interpersonal to the intergroup level. Both the replication and the shift of competition were successful. The intergroup competition was not accompanied by performance matching within the dyads.
TL;DR: The authors examined three factors that may impede the discovery of hidden profiles: commitment to initial decision, reiteration effect, and ownership bias, and found no support for the commitment-to-initial-decision hypothesis for uncovering hidden profiles.
Abstract: Three experiments examined three factors that may impede the discovery of hidden profiles: commitment to initial decision, reiteration effect, and ownership bias. Experiment 1 examined whether groups in which members are not asked to make an initial decision before group discussion are more likely to uncover hidden profiles than groups in which members are asked to make an initial decision. Experiment 2 examined this commitment to an initial decision and also the repetition of information for individuals. Experiment 3 explored the reiteration effect in groups and examined whether information that is usually repeated more in groups is viewed as more truthful. Experiments 1 and 2 found no support for the commitment to initial decision hypothesis for uncovering hidden profiles. Experiment 2 found that repetition of ‘common’ information significantly reduced individuals’ ability to uncover hidden profiles. Experiment 3 found that information individuals owned (both common and unique) before discussion was rated as more valid than other information. Experiment 3 did not find that common information, which is generally repeated more, was rated as more valid than unique information. Limitations of the current studies and suggestions for future research are discussed.
TL;DR: This paper examined various group identifications among Lebanese Muslims and Christians after the events of September 11 2001 and how these identifications related to social dominance orientation (SDO) and support for violence against the West.
Abstract: We examined various group identifications among Lebanese Muslims and Christians after the events of September 11 2001 and how these identifications related to social dominance orientation (SDO) and support for violence against the West. We expected stronger identification with less powerful groups to be associated with lower SDO (i.e. greater desires for group equality), and stronger support for terrorist organizations and violent acts against powerful nations. Consistent with these expectations, we found that SDO related negatively to identification with Arabs, and this group identification related positively to support for terrorist organizations and feelings that the September 11 attack was justified. Furthermore, we found that the direct negative effect of SDO on support for terrorism was mediated by Arab identification. Efforts to reduce conflict are discussed in terms of recognizing the anti-dominance elements of Arab identification in Lebanon, and the powerful implications that this subordinate gro...
TL;DR: The authors examined the impact of individual differences in the source of motivation to respond without prejudice and the social context in which racial beliefs are reported (i.e., private, public, pipeline) on stereotype endorsement scores.
Abstract: The current work draws upon recent developments in attitude and prejudice theory as well as the assessment of people’s motivation to respond without prejudice in order to reexamine the classic bogus pipeline technique. Specifically, the present study examines the joint impact of individual differences in the source of motivation to respond without prejudice and the social context in which racial beliefs are reported (i.e. private, public, pipeline) on stereotype endorsement scores. Results revealed that stereotype endorsement scores in the various reporting conditions were moderated by participants’ source of motivation to respond without prejudice. The findings are consistent with the argument that responses under bogus pipeline conditions assess people’s awareness of their experience of bias, whereas private reports assess people’s personal beliefs about the appropriateness of the stereotype of Black people.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of subgroup and superordinate identification on intergroup differentiation between the subgroups were investigated, and hypotheses based on the social identitit city were proposed.
Abstract: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subgroup and superordinate identification on intergroup differentiation between the subgroups. Hypotheses based on the social identit...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined effects of the two-sided availability of alternative negotiators in combination with the parties' social motive in two negotiation experiments with business students and found that prosocial negotiators rather than egoistic negotiators were sensitive to the presence of alternative partners.
Abstract: In two negotiation experiments with business students we examined effects of the two-sided availability of alternative negotiators in combination with the parties’ social motive. Contrary to our expectation, prosocial negotiators rather than egoistic negotiators were sensitive to the presence of alternative partners. While egoistic negotiators were relatively unaffected by mutual exit options, prosocials engaged in less problem solving and reached lower joint outcomes when having two-sided instead of no exit options. Low interpersonal trust was identified as being responsible for these effects. These findings add to theory and practice on alternatives and social motives in negotiation
TL;DR: The authors found that inequality among group members, as well as specific reasons for inequality, would significantly influence strength of group identification and cooperative responses to a social dilemma, and that starting with more money tended to reduce group identification for females but to increase it for males.
Abstract: Three studies tested the hypotheses that inequality among group members, as well as specific reasons for inequality, would significantly influence strength of group identification and cooperative responses to a social dilemma. In Study 1, participants reacted to scenarios describing a public good social dilemma. For some scenarios there was an equal distribution of initial resources, while in others the distribution was unequal. As predicted, group identification led to more cooperation in the dilemma. Starting with more money tended to reduce group identification for females but to increase it for males. In Study 2, participants were faced with an actual one-trial public good social dilemma involving real money. In some conditions, participants began with endowments of different sizes, and the inequality was explained as either random or justified. As predicted, reasons for inequality as well as the fact of inequality had an impact on group identification which, in turn, influenced cooperation in the dil...
TL;DR: The authors investigated the effect of group size uncertainty in a single-stage step-level common pool resource dilemma under a sequential (SEQ) and a self-paced sequential (SPS) protocol of play.
Abstract: This study investigated the effect of group size uncertainty in a single-stage step-level common pool resource dilemma under a sequential (SEQ) and a Self-paced Sequential (SPS) protocol of play. In the uncertain group size condition, participants were told that their group was equally likely to be any size between three and seven persons. In the certain group size condition, the group size was always five. In the SEQ protocol, decisions were made in a pre-specified order such that each player knew his or her position in the sequence, as well as the combined requests of all the preceding players in the sequence. In the SPS protocol, participants could choose when to make their decisions. In both protocols, we replicated the position effects—individual requests are inversely related to the players’ positions in the sequence with the first mover requesting most, and the last mover requesting the least. We also found that the position effect was stronger in SEQ than in SPS, and when group size was certain than when it was not. Relative to group size certainty, group size uncertainty decreased total requests and increased provision rates.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed whether group places can lead to category activation and increased stereotyping and found that participants that were in the outgroup building perceived outgroup members and outgroup in a more homogeneous way than participants in the ingroup building.
Abstract: Previous research reveals that situational cues can lead to category activation Based on these findings the current article analyzes whether group places can lead to category activation and increased stereotyping Psychology students were either in their ingroup building (Psychology Department) or in the outgroup building (Communication Department) Participants read information regarding outgroup members and made judgments of group variability As expected, participants that were in the outgroup building perceived outgroup members and the outgroup in a more homogeneous way than participants that were in the ingroup building Consequences for the understanding of mobility and group transition are discussed