Effects of cohesiveness and inferiority upon ingroup favoritism

MINORU KARASAWA

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.30.49

MINORU KARASAWA

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Keywords: ingroup favoritism, social identity theory, group cohesiveness, inferiority, intergroup social comparison

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1988 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 49-59

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.30.49

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Published: June 25, 1988 Received: October 01, 1985 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: January 16, 1988 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Back, K. W. 1951 Influence through social communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 190-207.
Baumeister, R. F., & Jones, E. E. 1978 When self-presentation is constrained by the target's knowledge: Consistency and compensation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 608-618.
Brewer, M. B. 1979 In-group bias in the minimal intergroup situation: A cognitive-motivational analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 307-324.
Brewer, M. B., & Silver, M. 1978 Ingroup bias as a function of task characteristics. European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, 393-400.
Brown, R. J., & Turner, J. C. 1981 Interpersonal and intergroup behavior. In J. C. Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp. 33-65.
Buss, A. H., & Portnoy, N. W. 1967 Pain tolerance and group identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 106-108.
Cartwright, D. 1968 The nature of group cohesiveness. In D. Cartwright & A. Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: Research and theory. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row. Pp. 91-109.
Cialdini, R. B., & Richardson, K. D. 1980 Two indirect tactics of image management: Basking and blasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 406-415.
Dion, K. L. 1973 Cohesiveness as a determinant of ingroup-outgroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28, 163-171.
Ferguson, C. K., & Kelley, H. H. 1964 Significant factors in overevaluation of own-group's product. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 69, 223-228.
Festinger, L. 1954 A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.
Gerard, H. B., & Hoyt, M. F. 1974 Distinctiveness of social categorization and attitude toward ingroup members. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 836-842.
Goethals, G. R., & Darley, J. M. 1977 Social comparison theory: An attributional approach. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp. 259-278.
Cruder, C. L. 1977 Choice of comparison persons in evaluating oneself. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp. 21-41.
Heider, F. 1958 The psychology of interpresonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Lambert, W. E., Libman, E., & Poser, E. G. 1960 The effect of increased salience of a membership group on pain tolerance. Journal of Personality, 28,350-357.
Latané, B. 1966 Studies in social comparison-Introduction and overview. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Supplement 1 1-5.
Lemaine, G. 1974 Social differentiation and social originality. European Journal of Social Psychology, 4, 17-52.
Lemaine, G., Kastersztein, J., & Personnaz, B. 1978 Social differentiation. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp. 269-300.
Milner, D. 1981 Racial prejudice. In J. C. Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp. 102-143.
Ryen, A. H., & Kahn, A. 1975 Effects of intergroup orientation on group attitudes and proxemic behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 302-310.
Shaw, M. E. 1981 Group dynamics: The psychology of small group behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O. J., White, B. J., Hood, W. R., & Sherif, C. W. 1961 Intergroup cooperation and competition: The robbers cave experiment. Norman, Okla.: University Book Exchange.
Tajfel, H. 1978 Social categorization, social identity and social comparison. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp. 61-76.
Tajfel, H. 1982 Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33, 1-39.
Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C. 1971 Social categorization and intergroup behaviour. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 149-178.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. 1986 The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. Pp. 7-24.
Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. 1984 Self-definition and self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls & A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 2). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Worchel, S., Lind, E. A., & Kaufman, K. 1975 Evaluation of group products as a function of expectations of group longevity, outcome of competition, and publicity of evaluations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 1089-1097.

Right : Back, K. W. 1951 Influence through social communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 190-207.
Baumeister, R. F., & Jones, E. E. 1978 Whenself-presentation is constrained by the target'sknowledge: Consistency and compensation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 608-618.
Brewer, M. B. 1979 In-group bias in the minimalintergroup situation: A cognitive-motivational analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 307-324.
Brewer, M. B., & Silver, M. 1978 Ingroup biasas a function of task characteristics. European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, 393-400.
Brown, R. J., & Turner, J. C. 1981 Interpersonaland intergroup behavior. In J. C. Turner& H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.33-65.
Buss, A. H., & Portnoy, N. W. 1967 Pain toleranceand group identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 106-108.
Cartwright, D. 1968 The nature of group cohesiveness. In D. Cartwright & A. Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: Research and theory. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row. Pp.91-109.
Cialdini, R. B., & Richardson, K. D. 1980 Twoindirect tactics of image management: Baskingand blasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 406-415.
Dion, K. L. 1973 Cohesiveness as a determinantof ingroup-outgroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28, 163-171.
Ferguson, C. K., & Kelley, H. H. 1964 Significantfactors in overevaluation of own-group'sproduct. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 69, 223-228.
Festinger, L. 1954 A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.
Gerard, H. B., & Hoyt, M. F. 1974 Distinctivenessof social categorization and attitude toward ingroup members. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 836-842.
Goethals, G. R., & Darley, J. M. 1977 Socialcomparison theory: An attributional approach. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparisonprocesses: Theoretical and empirical perspectives.Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.259-278.
Gruder, C. L. 1977 Choice of comparison personsin evaluating oneself. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoreticaland empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.21-41.
Heider, F. 1958 The psychology of interpresonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Lambert, W. E., Libman, E., & Poser, E. G. 1960The effect of increased salience of a membershipgroup on pain tolerance. Journal of Personality, 28, 350-357.
Latané, B. 1966 Studies in social comparisonIntroduction and overview. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Supplement 1 1-5.
Lemaine, G. 1974 Social differentiation and socialoriginality. European Journal of Social Psychology, 4, 17-52.
Lemaine, G., Kastersztein, J., & Personnaz, B.1978 Social differentiation. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in thesocial psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.269-300.
Milner, D. 1981 Racial prejudice. In J. C.Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.102-143.
Ryen, A. H., & Kahn, A. 1975 Effects of intergrouporientation on group attitudes and proxemicbehavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 302-310.
Shaw, M. E. 1981 Group dynamics: The psychologyof small group behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O. J., White, B. J., Hood, W. R., & Sherif, C. W. 1961 Intergroup cooperationand competition: The robbers cave experiment. Norman, Okla.: University Book Exchange.
Tajfel, H. 1978 Social categorization, social identityand social comparison. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in thesocial psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.61-76.
Tajfel, H. 1982 Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33, 1-39.
Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C. 1971 Social categorization and intergroupbehaviour. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 149-178.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. 1986 The social identitytheory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel& W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. Pp.7-24.
Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. 1984 Self-definitionand self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls &A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol.2). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Worchel, S., Lind, E. A., & Kaufman, K. 1975Evaluation of group products as a function ofexpectations of group longevity, outcome of competition, and publicity of evaluations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 1089-1097.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: TITLE Details: [in Japanese]

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : The hypotheses of the present study were as follows: (a) The more cohesive the ingroup is, the greater the ingroup favoritism will be; (b) When a high-cohesive ingroup is inferior to the outgroup on a certain dimension, inferiority will increase ingroup favoritism on another dimension, whereas in a low-cohesive ingroup, inferiority will have a derogatory effect. Male undergraduates participated in three-man discussion groups, and were told that they would be observed by female college students. Inferiority was manipulated by means of fictitious feedback ratings from the (non-existent) female students. Cohesiveness was manipulated by bogus feedback of attractiveness ratings among the ingroup members. Ingroup favoritism was measured by the differences between the ratings of two essays, one of which was purportedly written by an ingroup member and the other by an outgroup member. The hypotheses were largely supported. The present results validated the assumption that intergroup social comparison processes mediate ingroup favoritism.
Right : The hypotheses of the present study were as follows:(a) The more cohesive the ingroup is, the greater the ingroup favoritism will be;(b) When a high-cohesive ingroup is inferior to the outgroup on a certain dimension, inferiority will increase ingroup favoritism on another dimension, whereas in a low-cohesive ingroup, inferiority will have a derogatory effect. Male undergraduates participated in three-man discussion groups, and were told that they would be observed by female college students. Inferiority was manipulated by means of fictitious feedback ratings from the (non-existent) female students. Cohesiveness was manipulated by bogus feedback of attractiveness ratings among the ingroup members. Ingroup favoritism was measured by the differences between the ratings of two essays, one of which was purportedly written by an ingroup member and the other by an outgroup member. The hypotheses were largely supported. The present results validated the assumption that intergroup social comparison processes mediate ingroup favoritism.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Back, K. W. 1951 Influence through social communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 190-207.
Baumeister, R. F., & Jones, E. E. 1978 Whenself-presentation is constrained by the target'sknowledge: Consistency and compensation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 608-618.
Brewer, M. B. 1979 In-group bias in the minimalintergroup situation: A cognitive-motivational analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 307-324.
Brewer, M. B., & Silver, M. 1978 Ingroup biasas a function of task characteristics. European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, 393-400.
Brown, R. J., & Turner, J. C. 1981 Interpersonaland intergroup behavior. In J. C. Turner& H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.33-65.
Buss, A. H., & Portnoy, N. W. 1967 Pain toleranceand group identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 106-108.
Cartwright, D. 1968 The nature of group cohesiveness. In D. Cartwright & A. Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: Research and theory. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row. Pp.91-109.
Cialdini, R. B., & Richardson, K. D. 1980 Twoindirect tactics of image management: Baskingand blasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 406-415.
Dion, K. L. 1973 Cohesiveness as a determinantof ingroup-outgroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28, 163-171.
Ferguson, C. K., & Kelley, H. H. 1964 Significantfactors in overevaluation of own-group'sproduct. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 69, 223-228.
Festinger, L. 1954 A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.
Gerard, H. B., & Hoyt, M. F. 1974 Distinctivenessof social categorization and attitude toward ingroup members. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 836-842.
Goethals, G. R., & Darley, J. M. 1977 Socialcomparison theory: An attributional approach. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparisonprocesses: Theoretical and empirical perspectives.Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.259-278.
Gruder, C. L. 1977 Choice of comparison personsin evaluating oneself. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoreticaland empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.21-41.
Heider, F. 1958 The psychology of interpresonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Lambert, W. E., Libman, E., & Poser, E. G. 1960The effect of increased salience of a membershipgroup on pain tolerance. Journal of Personality, 28, 350-357.
Latané, B. 1966 Studies in social comparisonIntroduction and overview. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Supplement 1 1-5.
Lemaine, G. 1974 Social differentiation and socialoriginality. European Journal of Social Psychology, 4, 17-52.
Lemaine, G., Kastersztein, J., & Personnaz, B.1978 Social differentiation. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in thesocial psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.269-300.
Milner, D. 1981 Racial prejudice. In J. C.Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.102-143.
Ryen, A. H., & Kahn, A. 1975 Effects of intergrouporientation on group attitudes and proxemicbehavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 302-310.
Shaw, M. E. 1981 Group dynamics: The psychologyof small group behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O. J., White, B. J., Hood, W. R., & Sherif, C. W. 1961 Intergroup cooperationand competition: The robbers cave experiment. Norman, Okla.: University Book Exchange.
Tajfel, H. 1978 Social categorization, social identityand social comparison. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in thesocial psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.61-76.
Tajfel, H. 1982 Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33, 1-39.
Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C. 1971 Social categorization and intergroupbehaviour. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 149-178.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. 1986 The social identitytheory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel& W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. Pp.7-24.
Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. 1984 Self-definitionand self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls &A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol.2). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Worchel, S., Lind, E. A., & Kaufman, K. 1975Evaluation of group products as a function ofexpectations of group longevity, outcome of competition, and publicity of evaluations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 1089-1097.

Right : Back, K. W. 1951 Influence through social communication. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 190-207.
Baumeister, R. F., & Jones, E. E. 1978 When self-presentation is constrained by the target's knowledge: Consistency and compensation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 608-618.
Brewer, M. B. 1979 In-group bias in the minimal intergroup situation: A cognitive-motivational analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 307-324.
Brewer, M. B., & Silver, M. 1978 Ingroup bias as a function of task characteristics. European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, 393-400.
Brown, R. J., & Turner, J. C. 1981 Interpersonal and intergroup behavior. In J. C. Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.33-65.
Buss, A. H., & Portnoy, N. W. 1967 Pain tolerance and group identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 106-108.
Cartwright, D. 1968 The nature of group cohesiveness. In D. Cartwright & A. Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: Research and theory. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row. Pp.91-109.
Cialdini, R. B., & Richardson, K. D. 1980 Two indirect tactics of image management: Basking and blasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 406-415.
Dion, K. L. 1973 Cohesiveness as a determinant of ingroup-outgroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28, 163-171.
Ferguson, C. K., & Kelley, H. H. 1964 Significant factors in overevaluation of own-group's product. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 69, 223-228.
Festinger, L. 1954 A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.
Gerard, H. B., & Hoyt, M. F. 1974 Distinctiveness of social categorization and attitude toward ingroup members. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 836-842.
Goethals, G. R., & Darley, J. M. 1977 Social comparison theory: An attributional approach. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.259-278.
Gruder, C. L. 1977 Choice of comparison persons in evaluating oneself. In J. Suls & R. L. Miller (Eds.), Social comparison processes: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. Washington, D. C.: Hemisphere/Halsted. Pp.21-41.
Heider, F. 1958 The psychology of interpresonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Lambert, W. E., Libman, E., & Poser, E. G. 1960 The effect of increased salience of a membership group on pain tolerance. Journal of Personality, 28, 350-357.
Latané, B. 1966 Studies in social comparison-Introduction and overview. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Supplement 1 1-5.
Lemaine, G. 1974 Social differentiation and social originality. European Journal of Social Psychology, 4, 17-52.
Lemaine, G., Kastersztein, J., & Personnaz, B. 1978 Social differentiation. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.269-300.
Milner, D. 1981 Racial prejudice. In J. C. Turner & H. Giles (Eds.), Intergroup behavior. Oxford: Blackwell. Pp.102-143.
Ryen, A. H., & Kahn, A. 1975 Effects of intergroup orientation on group attitudes and proxemic behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 302-310.
Shaw, M. E. 1981 Group dynamics: The psychology of small group behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O. J., White, B. J., Hood, W. R., & Sherif, C. W. 1961 Intergroup cooperation and competition: The robbers cave experiment. Norman, Okla.: University Book Exchange.
Tajfel, H. 1978 Social categorization, social identity and social comparison. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations. London: Academic Press. Pp.61-76.
Tajfel, H. 1982 Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33, 1-39.
Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C. 1971 Social categorization and intergroup behaviour. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 149-178.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. 1986 The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. Pp.7-24.
Tesser, A., & Campbell, J. 1984 Self-definition and self-evaluation maintenance. In J. Suls & A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol.2). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Worchel, S., Lind, E. A., & Kaufman, K. 1975 Evaluation of group products as a function of expectations of group longevity, outcome of competition, and publicity of evaluations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 1089-1097.

Abstract

The hypotheses of the present study were as follows:(a) The more cohesive the ingroup is, the greater the ingroup favoritism will be;(b) When a high-cohesive ingroup is inferior to the outgroup on a certain dimension, inferiority will increase ingroup favoritism on another dimension, whereas in a low-cohesive ingroup, inferiority will have a derogatory effect. Male undergraduates participated in three-man discussion groups, and were told that they would be observed by female college students. Inferiority was manipulated by means of fictitious feedback ratings from the (non-existent) female students. Cohesiveness was manipulated by bogus feedback of attractiveness ratings among the ingroup members. Ingroup favoritism was measured by the differences between the ratings of two essays, one of which was purportedly written by an ingroup member and the other by an outgroup member. The hypotheses were largely supported. The present results validated the assumption that intergroup social comparison processes mediate ingroup favoritism.

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