When the outgroup becomes ingroup and when the ingroup becomes outgroup: Xenophobia and social categorization in a resource allocation task

Abstract

Subjects classified as more or less xenophobic allocated resources to SWISS nationals (ingroup) and foreign residents (outgroup) in three intergroup judgement modes: negative interdependence, independence and positive interdependence. When both groupswere assessed together as a single beneficiary (positive interdependence) they were allocated more resources than those provided to the outgroup under negative interdependence or independence. More xenophobic subjects, however gave less resources to both groups together under positive interdependence than to the ingroup under independence. In contrast, less xenophobic subjects allocated to both groups together a similar amount as to lhe ingroup under independence. These results suggest that, depending on their initial attitudes towards the outgroup, individuals will categorize a superordinate entity either more as an ingroup or more as an outgroup.

Conformity and counter‐conformity to anti‐discrimination norms: the moderating effect of attitude toward foreigners and perceived in‐group threat

“…These findings support previous research suggesting that negative interdependence better reflects the way anti‐foreigners think about intergroup relations, whereas equality better reflects the way pro‐foreigners do (Mugny et al., ; Sanchez‐Mazas, Roux, & Mugny, ; also see Pratto, Tatar, & Conway‐Lanz, ). Indeed, the former seemed to be more sensitive to the intergroup relationship operationalized through the induced threat and the allocation task.…”

Perceived in‐group threat as a factor moderating the influence of in‐group norms on discrimination against foreigners

“…Reliability coefficients were satisfactory for both sub-scales: economic threat ¼ 0.82, M ¼ À1.02, SD ¼ 1.29) and identity threat ¼ 0.69, M ¼ À0.32, SD ¼ 1.25). Participants' attitude towards the presence of foreigners in Switzerland was measured by informing participants that the foreign population nowadays represents 18% of the total population in Switzerland, and then asking them what per cent they wished (see Mugny et al, 1991;Sanchez-Mazas et al, 1994). Answers were given on a scale ranging from 11% to 25%.…”

“…It is therefore important to note that the lack of influence of the in-group norm should not be considered in this case as a lack of solidarity with the group, but rather as a sign of commitment to the group in a threatening context. Such an increase in discrimination would constitute a paradoxical effect that posits a social challenge since anti-discriminatory norms nowadays have a privileged status in Western societies: the increase in hostile and discriminatory behaviours against foreigners would appear to be explained by the xenophobes' reaction to egalitarian norms strengthened in social contexts that run counter to the need to preserve the in-group from the threat introduced by an out-group (see also Sanchez-Mazas et al, 1994). However, any conclusion should be considered with caution since this effect was not replicated in the third study, and additional research will be needed to examine such considerations.…”

“…Both realistic and symbolic threats are characterised by a representation of the out-group relationship in competitive terms, or in terms of negative interdependence, between in-group and out-group (see Bobo, 1999;Esses, Jackson, & Amstrong, 1998;Fiske & Rusher, 1993;Mugny, Sanchez-Mazas, Roux, & Pérez, 1991;Mummendey & Schreiber, 1983;Sanchez-Mazas, Roux, & Mugny, 1994). Negative interdependence, or group competition, implies that what is good for the out-group is bad for the in-group and vice versa.…”

Applying Social Psychology to International Social Issues

“…Similarly, social psychologists in both Europe and the United States have paid surprisingly little attention to the specific problems of prejudice and discrimination directed against the new immigrant minorities (Pettigrew et al, 1998). For instance, with a few striking exceptions (e.g., Masson & Verkuyten, 1993;Sanchez-Mazas, Roux, & Mugny, 1994), the vast social identity literature has rarely examined minority relations in Europe. From 1986 to 1996, the 12 leading English-language journals for the discipline published only 18 such papers, 10 of them from the Netherlands alone.4…”