TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective Attention to In- and Out-Group Members Systematically Influences Intergroup Bias
AU - Martiny-Huenger, Torsten
AU - Gollwitzer, Peter M.
AU - Oettingen, Gabriele
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.
PY - 2014/11/13
Y1 - 2014/11/13
N2 - We analyzed whether attending to versus ignoring in- and out-group members systematically influences intergroup bias. In two studies (N = 187), we manipulated attention by asking participants to count the appearance of in-group (or out-group) members in the presence of out-group (or in-group) distractors. Prior to and during the counting task, we assessed intergroup bias by having participants rate the group members on a liking scale. The results show that the change in intergroup bias from baseline to experimental ratings depended on the attention focus. Whereas counting in-group members (while ignoring the out-group) increased intergroup bias, counting out-group members (while ignoring the in-group) decreased intergroup bias. Thus, we provide evidence that consequences of goal-directed interactions with in- and out-group stimuli (i.e., exposure and selection) systematically influence intergroup bias. We propose that in future research these processes should be considered in addition to social–motivational factors in the analysis of intergroup bias.
AB - We analyzed whether attending to versus ignoring in- and out-group members systematically influences intergroup bias. In two studies (N = 187), we manipulated attention by asking participants to count the appearance of in-group (or out-group) members in the presence of out-group (or in-group) distractors. Prior to and during the counting task, we assessed intergroup bias by having participants rate the group members on a liking scale. The results show that the change in intergroup bias from baseline to experimental ratings depended on the attention focus. Whereas counting in-group members (while ignoring the out-group) increased intergroup bias, counting out-group members (while ignoring the in-group) decreased intergroup bias. Thus, we provide evidence that consequences of goal-directed interactions with in- and out-group stimuli (i.e., exposure and selection) systematically influence intergroup bias. We propose that in future research these processes should be considered in addition to social–motivational factors in the analysis of intergroup bias.
KW - distractor devaluation effect
KW - intergroup bias
KW - mere exposure
KW - selective attention
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U2 - 10.1177/1948550614541296
DO - 10.1177/1948550614541296
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84910103428
SN - 1948-5506
VL - 5
SP - 936
EP - 943
JO - Social Psychological and Personality Science
JF - Social Psychological and Personality Science
IS - 8
ER -