Cited by 121Social and Intergroup PsychologyVisual perception and processing mechanismsCategorization, perception, and language

Perceiving the World Through Group-Colored Glasses: A Perceptual Model of Intergroup Relations

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Xiao, Y. Jenny, Coppin, Géraldine, Van Bavel, Jay J.·2016·Psychological Inquiry

Abstract

Extensive research has investigated societal and behavioral consequences of social group affiliation and identification but has been relatively silent on the role of perception in intergroup relations. We propose the perceptual model of intergroup relations to conceptualize how intergroup relations are grounded in perception. We review the growing literature on how intergroup dynamics shape perception across different sensory modalities and argue that these perceptual processes mediate intergroup relations. The model provides a starting point for social psychologists to study perception as a function of social group dynamics and for perception researchers to consider social influences. We highlight several gaps in the literature and outline areas for future research. Uncovering the role of perception in intergroup relations offers novel insights into the construction of shared reality and may help devise new and unique interventions targeted at the perceptual level.

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Crossref · 10.1080/1047840x.2016.1199221

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  • Perception is conditioned by identity categorization and mediates the influence of identity on attitudes and behaviors by activating stereotypes.

    “Perception as a psychological process is conditioned by identity categorization and, in turn, mediates the influence of identity on attitudes and behaviors by activating stereotypes (Xiao et al., 2016).”

    From ¿Demasiado lejos? Cómo la polarización mal percibida alimenta la polarización afectiva en España (2025) · cites this paper as Xiao et al., 2016

    The Perceptual Model of Intergroup Relations section says social identification influences perception and proposes that perceptual processes can mediate intergroup relations. It does not say that perception mediates effects on attitudes and behavior by activating stereotypes; its stereotype example chiefly describes stereotype-related concepts influencing perception. The paper also notes that evidence for the path from perception to intergroup relations is more limited. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Attitudes are influenced by judgments about political reality, which are influenced and biased by group identities.

    “Attitudes are influenced by judgments about political reality, which in turn are influenced (and biased) by group identities.”
  • Identities influence the perception of facts, and based on this perception, intergroup relations develop.

    “In particular, they influence the perception of facts, and, based on this perception, intergroup relations develop (Xiao et al., 2016;Cole et al., 2023).”

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6 of the 236 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Brown, D. E. (1991). Human universals. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Campbell, N. A., Reece, J. B., Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V., & Jackson, R. B. (2008). Biology. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
  3. Enos, R. D., & Celaya, C. (2016). Spatial segregation directly affects percep- tion and causes intergroup bias (Working Paper). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University.
  4. Tajfel, H., Billig, M. G., Bundy, R. P., & Flament, C. (1971). Social categori- zation and intergroup behavior. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 149-178.
  5. Tajfel, H., & Wilkes, A. L. (1963). Classification and quantitative judgment. British Journal of Psychology, 54, 101-114.
  6. Zborowski, M. (1952). Cultural components in response to pain. Journal of Social Issues, 8, 16-30.

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Authors
Xiao, Y. J., Coppin, G., & Van Bavel, J. J.
Affiliations
  • New York University (US)
  • Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research (DE)
  • ,
Venue
Psychological Inquiry
Published
2016-10
Volume
27
Issue
4
Pages
255-274
ISSN
  • 1047-840X (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-7965
OpenAlex
W2533875960
Cited by
121
References
236
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1
FWCI
33.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Psychological Inquiry (publishedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (P300P1_151174, 1349089)
  • York University
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (1349089, 151174)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Categorization, perception, and language
Keywords
intergroup relations, perception, group identification, perceptual models, sensory modalities, shared reality, intergroup dynamics

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