Social categorization and intergroup behaviour
Abstract
The aim of the studies was to assess the effefcs of social categorization on intergroup behaviour when, in the intergroup situation, neither calculations of individual interest nor previously existing attitudes of hostility could have been said to have determined discriminative behaviour against an outgroup. These conditions were satisfied in the experimental design. In the first series of experiments, it was found that the subjects favoured their own group in the distribution of real rewards and penalities in a situation in which nothing but the variable of fairly irrelevant classification distinguished between the ingroup and the outgroup. In the second series of experiments it was found that: 1) maximum joint profit independent of group membership did not affect significantly the manner in which the subjects divided real pecuniary rewards; 2) maximum profit for own group did affect the distribution of rewards; 3) the clearest effect on the distribution of rewards was due to the subjects' attempt to achieve a maximum difference between the ingroup and the outgroup even at the price of sacrificing other ‘objective’ advantages. The design and the results of the study are theoretically discussed within the framework of social norms and expectations and particularly in relation to a ‘generic’ norm of outgroup behaviour prevalent in some societies.
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Other measures included in the current studies, such as group favorability, liking of the models, self-reported affect, Tajfel matrices, and the OSIO scale, showed no significant effects of mortality salience.
“Other measures included in the current studies such as group favorability (Studies 1 and 2), liking of the models (Studies 1 and 2), self-reported affect (Studies 1 and 2), Tajfel matrices (Tajfel et al., 1971), and the OSIO scale (Study 3; Schubert & Otten, 2002) showed no significant effects of mortality salience”
From Existential threat and responses to emotional displays of ingroup and outgroup members (2023) · cites this paper as Tajfel et al., 1971
Even arbitrary distinctions (for example, a preference for the abstract painters Klee or Kandinsky) can lead to immediate intergroup discrimination.
“Social psychologists have shown that even arbitrary distinctions (for example, a preference for the abstract painters Klee or Kandinsky) can lead to immediate intergroup discrimination13,14.”
From Generative language models exhibit social identity biases (2024) · cites this paper as [13]
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“…such as group favorability (Studies 1 and 2), liking of the models (Studies 1 and 2), self-reported affect (Studies 1 and 2), Tajfel matrices (Tajfel et al., 1971), and the OSIO scale (Study 3; Schubert & Otten, 2002) showed no significant effects of mortality salience (see supplemental…”
BackgroundSelf-serving intergroup aggression escalates and prevails over parochial cooperation
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- Authors
- Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Venue
- European Journal of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1971-04
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 149-178
- ISSN
- 0046-2772 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0992
- OpenAlex
- W2147602649
- Cited by
- 5,562
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 236 · 2025: 347 · 2024: 285 · 2023: 297 · 2022: 300 · 2021: 282 · 2020: 317 · 2019: 287 · 2018: 241 · 2017: 226 · 2016: 254 · 2015: 225 · 2014: 235 · 2013: 225 · 2012: 219
- FWCI
- 41.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Keywords
- social categorization, intergroup behavior, in-group favoritism, out-group discrimination, reward allocation, group membership, social norms, intergroup conflict
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