Role of out-group cues in determining social identity

• Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology 1984-08, Vol.47 (2), p.342-348
• Main Authors: Wilder, David A, Shapiro, Peter N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior. Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Cues; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Intergroup Dynamics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Perception; Social psychology
• ISSN: 0022-3514; 1939-1315
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.47.2.342

Examined the role of out-group cues in determining social identity and guiding behavior in 2 experiments with 131 undergraduates. In Exp I, Ss were exposed to a cue either of an in-group (Ss' college), a relevant out-group (a rival college), or an irrelevant out-group (a baseball team). Ss examined a list of words and were later asked to recognize those they had seen from a larger list in which words related to the 3 groups were embedded. Results indicate that Ss made more false recognitions of in-group related words when a relevant out-group was salient than when an irrelevant out-group was salient. Exp II tested a behavioral implication of Exp I: Out-group salience increases adherence to an in-group norm. In the 1st phase of Exp II, Ss were divided into 2 groups and deliberated 2 civil suits. Ss' in-group favored the plaintiffs for both cases. Ss were divided into new groups for the 2nd phase, and the same procedure was followed. This time, however, the in-group favored the defendants. In the 3rd phase, Ss were exposed to a cue either of the out-group in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Ss' judgments for 2 new cases were biased in the direction of the norm of the in-group that was associated with the salient out-group. Ss favored the plaintiff (or defendant) when the 1st (or 2nd) out-group was salient. (14 ref)