In-group Homogeneity Perception and Dynamics of Social Status
Type de matériel :
73
In this research we examined in-group homogeneity perception of individuals whose in-group’s social status changes in time (Study 1) or across different social comparisons (Study 2). In Study 1 the inter-group context changed in the way that two minimal groups passed from “equal” to asymmetrical social statuses (high status vs. low status). Results showed that individual whose in-group moved to the low status perceived higher homogeneity compared to the situation where their status was “equal” to the other group’s status. This effect was not observed for individual whose in-group status moved to the high social status. In Study 2, we used natural social groups. The same in-group was compared to an out-group of high vs. equal vs. low status. Results showed a higher in-group homogeneity perception when in-group had low status compared to the other two experimental conditions. Discussion suggests that cognitive and motivational explanations of social status effect on homogeneity perception should take into account dynamics of this socio-structural characteristic.
Réseaux sociaux