Are people more prejudiced toward groups that are perceived as coherent? A meta-analysis of the relationship between out-group entitativity and prejudice

Abstract

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between out-group entitativity and prejudice. A quantitative analysis of 85 effect sizes from 33 independent samples showed a significant positive relationship between entitativity and prejudice (Fisher's z = .414, 95% CI [.272, .557], p < .0001). Three possible moderators of the relationship between entitativity and prejudice were tested: conceptualization of the entitativity (essence-based entitativity scale, agency-based entitativity scale, common entitativity scale), the target of the prejudice, the measures of prejudice (attitudes, emotions, behavior towards out-group). Results demonstrated that out-group entitativity correlated with prejudice only when entitativity was conceptualized as an essence-based or common-based scale, and prejudice was measured as the attitude to the out-group. The target of prejudice does not moderate the relationship between entitativity and prejudice.Keywords: entitativity, prejudice, meta-analysis, robust variance estimation 2004), it is important how the authors conceptualize the group entitativity in their research. Second, the social groups vary in permeability of group boundaries, group size, group history and social status, which can lead to that they can be perceived less or more entitative. As a result, we can assume that the target of prejudice can moderate the relationship between entitativity and prejudice. Finally, in daily life prejudices can manifest themselves in different ways, from emotions and cognitions to intentions and behaviors. Therefore, the measure of prejudice can be considered as a moderator of the relationship between entitativity and prejudice.The purpose of the current study is to examine comprehensively the relationship between entitativity and prejudice, focusing on key moderators of this relationship.Overall, the results of the meta-analysis enable us to fill in the gaps in the understanding of the nature of prejudice. Moderators Conceptualization of entitativityDespite the fact that entitativity is a relatively new concept in social psychology there are several theoretical views relating to it. The authors allocate at least two different approaches to the understanding of group entitativity: the ‗essence-based entitativity approach' and the ‗agency-based entitativity approach' (Brewer, Hong, & Li, 2004). The essence-based entitativity approach considers similarity (homogeneity) in common attributes (e.g. physical features, personality traits etc.) as the key characteristics of entitativity. In particular, according to this approach high homogeneity is associated with greater entitativity (Askevis-Leherpeux, 2005; Personality and Social Psychology, 83(5), 1076-1094.