Intergroup Relations

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn: Italian American Victims and Victimizers

by Jerome Krase

This is a draft of an article published as “Bensonhurst, Brooklyn: Italian American Victimizers and Victims.” In The Review of Italian American Studies. 2000: 233-44.

Morality, exclusion, and culture

by Alaina Brenick

Killen, M. & Brenick, A. (2011). Morality, exclusion, and culture. In X. Chen & K. R. Rubin (Eds.), Socioemotional Development in Cultural Contexts. New York: Guilford Publications.

Collective Regret versus Collective Guilt: Different Emotional Reactions to Historical Atrocities

by Roland Imhoff

co-authored with Michal Bilewicz and Jennes Erb; accepted for publication in European Journal of Social Psychology

A distinction between guilt and regret in reactions to ingroup atrocities is proposed. Four studies (total N = 1,249)... more A distinction between guilt and regret in reactions to ingroup atrocities is proposed. Four studies (total N = 1,249) support the notion that guilt and regret are distinct emotional reactions. Whereas guilt is a self-focussed, aversive emotional reaction following from appraisals of responsibility and associated with the intention to make amends, regret follows from an empathic victim perspective, is less aversive and more strongly associated with positive attitudes towards the victim groups and the intention to engage in intergroup contact. These findings suggest that less aversive emotions like regret are more likely to improve intergroup attitudes after a common history of conflict but the aversive experience of guilt might be more potent in motivating reparations.

Bijleveld, E., Scheepers, D., & Ellemers, N. (in press). The cortisol response to anticipated intergroup interactions predicts self-reported prejudice. PLoS ONE.

by Erik Bijleveld

Objectives. While prejudice has often been shown to be rooted in experiences of threat, the biological underpinnings... more Objectives. While prejudice has often been shown to be rooted in experiences of threat, the biological underpinnings of this threat-prejudice association have received less research attention. The present experiment aims to test whether activations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, due to anticipated interactions with outgroup members, predict self-reported prejudice. Moreover, we explore potential moderators of this relationship (i.e., interpersonal similarity; subtle vs. blatant prejudice).

Methodology/Principal findings. Participants anticipated an interaction with an out-group member who was similar or dissimilar to the self. To index HPA activation, cortisol responses to this event were measured. Then, subtle and blatant prejudice were measured via questionnaires. Findings indicated that only when people anticipated an interaction with an out group member who was dissimilar to the self, their cortisol response to this event significantly predicted subtle (r = .50) and blatant (r = .53) prejudice.

Conclusions. These findings indicate that prejudicial attitudes are linked to HPA-axis activity. Furthermore, when intergroup interactions are interpreted to be about individuals (and not so much about groups), experienced threat (or its biological substrate) is less likely to relate to prejudice.

Social disapproval not fear helps smokers quit

by Caroline Wood

Press release by Canterbury Christ Church University
Co-authored with Dr. Masi Noor

Researchers from Canterbury Christ Church University have found that smokers are more likely to stop because of... more Researchers from Canterbury Christ Church University have found that smokers are more likely to stop because of anti-social attitudes towards them than from fear of ill-health.

Explicit Prejudice is Alive and Kicking! Graphic Anti-Smoking Warnings Increase Prejudice in Non-Smokers Towards Smokers

by Caroline Wood

Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISPP 34th Annual Scientific Meeting, Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey, Jul 09, 2011
Co-authored with Dr. Masi Noor

Around the world, graphic warnings on tobacco packaging are used with the intention to raise smoker awareness of the... more Around the world, graphic warnings on tobacco packaging are used with the intention to raise smoker awareness of the adverse consequences of smoking. Regardless of the effectiveness of these campaigns, inevitably as public images they are likely to be seen by non-smokers as well as smokers. This current research employed an experimental methodology to examine the effects of graphic anti-smoking warnings on non-smokers’ attitudes towards smokers.
Results revealed that non-smokers expressed more negative attitudes towards smokers in terms of prejudice and victim blame after exposure to an anti-smoking warning compared to non-smokers shown a control image. Furthermore, the presence of the warning provoked more blame amongst non-smokers with high belief in a just world compared to non-smokers with low belief in a just world. Findings are discussed in relation to intergroup relations and implications for graphic anti-smoking campaign effectiveness.

Perceived Out-Group (Dis) Continuity and Attribution of Responsibility for the Lebanese Civil War Mediate Effects of National and Religious Subgroup Identification on …

by Laurent Licata

Determinantes psicosociales y sociodemográficos de las actitudes interétnicas en jóvenes de San José y Limón (2003)

by Vanessa Smith-Castro

La psicología social de las relaciones intergrupales: modelos e hipótesis (2006)

by Vanessa Smith-Castro

Responding to News about a Natural Disaster: The Interplay of Group Identification and Social Cynicism in Perceived Prototypicality

by Chin Ming Hui

Chen, S. X., Guan, Y. J., & Hui, C. M. (in press). Responding to news about a natural disaster: The interplay of group identification and social cynicism in perceived prototypicality. International Journal of Intercultural Relations.

Two studies examined how members of Chinese subgroups, namely Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese, perceived attributes... more Two studies examined how members of Chinese subgroups, namely Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese, perceived attributes reflected by acts in positive and negative news about the Sichuan earthquake in China as prototypical of the superordinate category of Chinese as a whole. Mainland Chinese, but not Hong Kong Chinese, perceived positive acts as more prototypical of Chinese than negative acts, and identification with the superordinate category mediated this effect of subgroup membership on perceived prototypicality. In addition, cynical beliefs moderated the interaction between group identification and event valence on perceived prototypicality. When social cynicism was high, positive versus negative acts were considered as more prototypical of Chinese among high identifiers whereas the reverse pattern was found among low identifiers. However, when social cynicism was low, positive and negative acts were considered as equally prototypical regardless of Chinese identification. These results revealed the motivational and cognitive forces underlying the construction of group prototypes, and underscored the added value of social axioms in
understanding perceptions of culturally salient events.

Review of “The Dynamics of Intergroup Communication”,

by Keon West

West, K., (2011) Review of “The Dynamics of Intergroup Communication”, Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 30, 240 – 243.

Rubin, M. (2012). Group status is related to group prototypicality in the absence of social identity concerns. Journal of Social Psychology, 152, 386–389.

by Mark Rubin

Free access at http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/cMtWfbQgq9HNRiVqZSGi/full

Based on self-categorization theory, group status should be positively related to group prototypicality when the... more Based on self-categorization theory, group status should be positively related to group prototypicality when the relevant superordinate category is positively valued. In this case, high status groups should be perceived to be more prototypical than low status groups even in the absence of concerns about maintaining a positive social identity. To test this hypothesis, a minimal group study was conducted in which participants (N = 139) did not belong to any of the groups involved. Consistent with predictions, participants perceived high status groups to be significantly more prototypical than low status groups. Consistent with self-categorization theory’s cognitive analysis, these results demonstrate that the relation between group status and group prototypicality is a relatively basic and pervasive effect that does not depend on social identity motives.

Intergroup trust and contact in transition: A social representations perspective on the Cyprus conflict.

by Charis Psaltis

Psaltis, C. (2011). Intergroup trust and contact in transition: A social representations perspective on the Cyprus conflict. In (Ed.) I.Markova & A. Gillespie, Trust and Conflict: Representation, Culture and Dialogue, UK: Rutledge.

The paper discusses intergroup trust and its relation to intergroup contact from the perspective of intergroup... more The paper discusses intergroup trust and its relation to intergroup contact from the perspective of intergroup relations originally initiated by Allport (1954) and recently developed in the context of Social Identity Theory. However, this paper will argue that the theory of social representations can enrich the classic approach on contact by introducing a historical and cultural analysis. After situating the Cyprus issue in its historical context I present an analysis of present identity positions, within each community, as perspectives on intergroup relations that canalise the past-present-future transition and discuss how intergroup trust can be conceptualised in relation to contact from this perspective.

Secondary Transfer Effects of Intergroup Contact: Alternative Accounts and Underlying Processes.

by Charis Psaltis

Tausch, N., Hewstone, M., Kenworthy, J., Psaltis, C., Schmid, K., Popan, J., et al. (2010). Secondary Transfer Effects of Intergroup Contact: Alternative Accounts and Underlying Processes. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 99, 282-302.

Although intergroup contact is one of the most prominent interventions to reduce prejudice, the generalization of... more Although intergroup contact is one of the most prominent interventions to reduce prejudice, the generalization of contact effects is still a contentious issue. This research further examined the rarely studied secondary transfer effect (STE; Pettigrew, 2009), by which contact with a primary outgroup reduces prejudice toward secondary groups that are not directly involved in the contact. Across 3 cross-sectional studies conducted in Cyprus (N = 1,653), Northern Ireland (N = 1,973), and Texas (N = 275) and 1 longitudinal study conducted in Northern Ireland (N = 411), the present research sought to systematically rule out alternative accounts of the STE and to investigate 2 potential mediating mechanisms (ingroup reappraisal and attitude generalization). Results indicated that, consistent with the STE, contact with a primary outgroup predicts attitudes toward secondary outgroups, over and above contact with the secondary outgroup, socially desirable responding, and prior attitudes. Mediation analyses found strong evidence for attitude generalization but only limited evidence for ingroup reappraisal as an underlying process. Two out of 3 tests of a reverse model, where contact with the secondary outgroup predicts attitudes toward the primary outgroup, provide further evidence for an indirect effect through attitude generalization. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, and directions for future research are identified.

Harwood, J., Paolini, S., Joyce, N., Rubin, M., & Arroyo, A. (2011). Secondary transfer effects from imagined contact: Group similarity affects the generalization gradient. British Journal of Social Psychology, 50, 180-189.

by Mark Rubin

An experiment examined the effects of imagining contact with an illegal immigrant on attitudes towards illegal... more An experiment examined the effects of imagining contact with an illegal immigrant on attitudes towards illegal immigrants and subsequent effects of that attitude change on feelings about other groups (secondary transfer). Compared to a condition in which participants imagined negative contact with an illegal immigrant, participants who imagined positive contact reported more positive attitudes concerning illegal immigrants. Using bootstrapped mediation models, effects of positive imagined contact on attitudes towards illegal immigrants were shown to generalize to other groups that were independently ranked as similar to illegal immigrants, but not to dissimilar groups. This generalization gradient effect was relatively large. Implications for theory and practical applications to prejudice reduction are discussed.

Rubin, M., & Hewstone, M. (1998). Social identity theory’s self-esteem hypothesis: A review and some suggestions for clarification. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 40-62.

by Mark Rubin

Hewstone, M., Rubin, M., & Willis, H. (2002). Intergroup bias. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 575-604.

by Mark Rubin

This chapter reviews the extensive literature on bias in favor of in-groups at the expense of out-groups. We focus on... more This chapter reviews the extensive literature on bias in favor of in-groups at the expense of out-groups. We focus on five issues and identify areas for future research: (a) measurement and conceptual issues (especially in-group favoritism vs. out-group derogation, and explicit vs. implicit measures of bias); (b) modern theories of bias highlighting motivational explanations (social identity, optimal distinctiveness, uncertainty reduction, social dominance, terror management); (c) key moderators of bias, especially those that exacerbate bias (identification, group size, status and power, threat, positive-negative asymmetry, personality and individual differences); (d) reduction of bias (individual vs. intergroup approaches, especially models of social categorization); and (e) the link between intergroup bias and more corrosive forms of social hostility.

Framing Matters: Contextual Influences on Interracial Interaction Outcomes

by Laura Babbitt

Previous studies indicate that interracial interactions frequently have negative outcomes but have typically focused... more Previous studies indicate that interracial interactions frequently have negative outcomes but have typically focused on social contexts. The current studies examined the effect of manipulating interaction context. In Study 1, Black and White participants worked together with instructions that created either a social focus or a task focus. With a task focus, interracial pairs were more consistently synchronized, Black participants showed less executive function depletion, and White participants generally showed reduced implicit bias. Follow-up studies suggested that prejudice concerns help explain these findings: White participants reported fewer concerns about appearing prejudiced when they imagined an interracial interaction with a task focus rather than a social focus (Study 2a), and Black participants reported less vigilance against prejudice in an imagined interracial interaction with a task focus rather than a social focus (Study 2b). Taken together, these studies illustrate the importance of interaction context for the experiences of both Blacks and Whites.

University diversity and preparation for a global society: the role of diversity in shaping intergroup attitudes and civic outcomes

by Nida Denson

Nida Denson & Nicholas Bowman (in press): University diversity and preparation for a global society: the role of diversity in shaping intergroup attitudes and civic outcomes, Studies in Higher Education, DOI:10.1080/03075079.2011.584971

Although there is growing research showing that students’ views, attitudes, and university diversity experiences... more Although there is growing research showing that students’ views, attitudes, and university diversity experiences promote preparation for a global society, little research is available outside of American contexts. This study utilised data collected at one Australian university to examine whether students’ views and attitudes towards diversity, and their university diversity experiences, stimulate the development of key attributes needed to function effectively in a global society, namely positive intergroup attitudes and civic engagement. The findings demonstrate that high-quality engagement with curricular diversity activities (institutionally structured opportunities for students to engage with diversity) and with diverse peers (positive diversity interactions) are associated with improved intergroup attitudes and civic engagement outcomes. The findings also reveal that poor quality engagement with diverse peers (negative diversity interactions) are negatively associated with gains in these outcomes. These findings are consistent regardless of students’ pre-university experience with diversity and their openness to diversity.

Rose-Colored Glasses: How Tokenism and Comparisons With the Past Reduce the Visibility of Gender Inequality

by Jennifer R. Spoor

Schmitt, M. T., Spoor, J. R., Danaher, K., & Branscombe, N. R. (2009). Rose-colored glasses: How tokenism and comparisons with the past reduce the visibility of gender inequality.  In M. Barreto, M. Ryan, & M. T. Schmitt (Eds.), The glass ceiling in the 21st century: Understanding barriers to gender equality, (pp. 49-71).  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.