Explanations for positive and negative behavior: the intergroup attribution bias in achieved groups |
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Authors: | Mark Tarrant and Adrian C North |
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Institution: | (1) University of Leicester, USA;(2) Department of Psychology, Keele University, ST55BG Keele |
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Abstract: | Previous research into intergroup attribution has addressed mainly the behavior of groups to which members are ascribed (e.g.
gender, race). The attribution processes of groups of which membership is achieved (e.g. friendship groups) is less well understood,
and the current study sought to address this. Fifty-five undergraduate participants were asked to explain the positive and
negative behavior of a member of the in-group and a member of the out-group. As predicted, the participants attributed an
in-group member's positive behavior more, and their negative behavior less, to internal, global, and specific causes than
they did the corresponding behavior of an out-group member. There was also evidence that the participants employed a strategy
of out-group derogation in their attributions: they made a higher intemality rating for an out-group member's negative behavior
than they did for that person's positive behavior. It is proposed that the current study's use of achieved groups maximized
participants' levels of group identification, and that this in turn motivated behavioral strategies aimed at protecting that
identity. |
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Keywords: | |
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