Abstract
Research suggests that members of low-status groups are more likely than members of high-status groups to show self-depersonalization and to favor ingroup members over outgroup members. The present research tests two alternative explanations of this status asymmetry: One explanation is based on the motive for achieving a positive social identity, and the other explanation is based on the willingness to cope with a social identity threat. Three minimal group experiments examine these two explanations. Supporting the identity motive explanation, the findings show that self-depersonalization (Studies 1-3) and ingroup favoritism (Study 3) are less prominent in the high-status group than in the low-status and the status-unspecified groups. Moreover, the results do not support the identity threat explanation because self-depersonalization and ingroup favoritism were not weaker in the low-status group than in the status-unspecified group.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5-14 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Swiss Journal of Psychology |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan-2018 |
Keywords
- minimal groups
- ingroup status
- social identity
- self-depersonalization
- ingroup favoritism
- IN-GROUP BIAS
- SOCIAL IDENTITY
- DISTINCTIVENESS
- PSYCHOLOGY
- DEROGATION
- STABILITY
- CONTEXTS
- OUTGROUP
- BEHAVIOR
- ESTEEM