70

The present study examines intergroup attribution bias within a multiracial context. Explicit and implicit measures, based on language analysis, were used. Participants ranged from 9 to 11 years old. Participants were shown photographs of a character carrying out an action and were then asked to write a text explaining the causes of the action. The three independent variables were: group status (majority, i.e. White vs. minority, i.e. Black), the origin of the target character (ingroup vs. outgroup), and the nature of the action (positive vs. negative). Results show no group status or interaction effects, whereas effects were found for the other two variables, origin of the target and nature of the action. Differences emerged in the participants’ treatment of the ingroup vs. outgroup target in both positive and negative actions. When confronted with a positive action, both groups showed ingroup favouritism. It appeared on an implicit as well as an explicit level for the majority group participants, but only on an implicit level for the minority group participants. Conversely, when confronted with a negative action, out-group derogation only appeared on an implicit level for majority group participants, whereas it appeared on an implicit and explicit level for minority group participants. The discussion underlines the importance of group membership and moderates the effects of group status in intergroup bias studies from the perspective of the evolution of social norms and intergroup relationships.