Social representation and social identity in the black sheep effect

This study tests a new integration of central core theory with subjective group dynamics theory. Specifically, we hypothesized that the type of opinions shared within a group (central vs. peripheral; i.e. central core theory) can moderate the typical processes of the black sheep effect (i.e. subjective group dynamics theory). Our study focused on students expressing opinions with regard to their social representation of studying. We predicted that an in‐group member expressing an opinion against central opinions of the group (but not against peripheral ones) would be judged more negatively than an out‐group member expressing the same opinion. In line with central core theory, the results showed that central opinions, but not peripheral opinions, lead to the typical processes of the black sheep effect. Our findings show that the central elements of a social representation are key to defining the social identity of a group. Future research should thus focus on understanding the socio‐representational nature of cognitions involved in intra‐group and inter‐group relations.