TY - JOUR
T1 - When different means worse: In-group prototypicality in changing intergroup contexts
AU - Wenzel, Michael
AU - Mummendey, Amelie
AU - Waldzus, Sven
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - An experiment with 213 participants provided evidence for in-group projection-the generalization of distinctive in-group attributes to a superordinate category. The frame of reference for in-group (German) judgments was manipulated by presenting either Italians or the British as an out-group. Results showed that attributes on which Germans differed from each out-group were accentuated not only in in-group judgments but also when judging Europeans. By adapting features of the superordinate category to those of the in-group, the in-group's similarity to, and the out-group's deviation from, the prototype of the superordinate category were maintained, if not emphasized. Further, higher in-group prototypicality-compared to out-group prototypicality-for the superordinate category was related to negative out-group attitudes. In-group projection was reduced when a complex representation of the superordinate category was primed.
AB - An experiment with 213 participants provided evidence for in-group projection-the generalization of distinctive in-group attributes to a superordinate category. The frame of reference for in-group (German) judgments was manipulated by presenting either Italians or the British as an out-group. Results showed that attributes on which Germans differed from each out-group were accentuated not only in in-group judgments but also when judging Europeans. By adapting features of the superordinate category to those of the in-group, the in-group's similarity to, and the out-group's deviation from, the prototype of the superordinate category were maintained, if not emphasized. Further, higher in-group prototypicality-compared to out-group prototypicality-for the superordinate category was related to negative out-group attitudes. In-group projection was reduced when a complex representation of the superordinate category was primed.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesp.2004.05.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jesp.2004.05.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-1031
VL - 41
SP - 76
EP - 83
JO - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
ER -