Predicting Intergroup Bias: The Interactive Effects of Implicit Theory and Social Identity

Abstract

This research sought to integrate the implicit theory approach and the social identity approach to understanding biases in intergroup judgment. The authors hypothesized that a belief in fixed human character would be associated with negative bias and prejudice against a maligned group regardless of the perceiver's social identity. By contrast, a belief in malleable human character would allow the perceiver's social identity to guide intergroup perception, such that a common ingroup identity that includes the maligned group would be associated with less negative bias and prejudice against the maligned group than would an exclusive identity. To test these hypotheses, a correlational study was conducted in the context of the Hong Kong 1997 political transition to examine Hong Kong Chinese's perceptions of Chinese Mainlanders, and an experimental study was conducted in the United States to examine Asian Americans' perception of African Americans. Results from both studies supported the authors' predictions.

The Racial Divide in Response to the Aftermath of Katrina: A Boundary Condition for Common Ingroup Identity Model

“…An intriguing question is whether all groups in a society should pursue the same categorization process at the same time. While the current study provides demonstration that dual identity adoption may reduce prejudice for the hegemonic group, past studies (e.g., Hong et al, 2004) suggest that this is not necessarily the case for minority groups under some circumstances (e.g., when a minority group is perceiving another minority group).…”

When contact with immigrants matters: threat, interethnic attitudes and foreigner exclusionism in Spain'sComunidades Autónomas

“…Most of these studies were based on experimental designs and examined the conditions and psychological processes responsible for reducing inter-group conflicts and prejudices. 46 Xavier Escandell and Alin M. Ceobanu Proponents of the 'contact hypothesis' have built upon Allport's (1954) proposition that the quality and quantity of inter-group contact help foster positive attitudes towards out-group members, as well as on the four prerequisites of successful contact: equal status; cooperation between groups; common goals; and endorsement by authorities, law or customs (see also Brewer 1996;Hong et al 2004).…”

Lay Theories and Intergroup Relations

“…Bastian & Haslam, in press;Hong et al, 2004;Levy et al, 1998) and also among US adults and children (e.g. Karafantis & Levy, 2004;Levy & Dweck, 1999;Levy et al, 1998).…”