How Does Crossed Categorization Affect Intergroup Bias?

Abstract

Much of the research on stereotypes and intergroup bias focuses on only two groups. The research that does include more than one dimension of difference studies the amount of discrimination that occurs between different combinations of groups, but it does not address intergroup bias that occurs when people belonging jointly to two ingroups interact with others belonging to two outgroups. The current research addresses this problem by looking at how people belonging simultaneously to two different ingroups react differently to outgroups, compared to people belonging to only one ingroup. This study finds that when participants belong to more than one ingroup, they discriminate less than those belonging to just one. This is thought to be due to social identity complexity, the idea that when a person belongs to more than one group he or she must work to combine several social identities, which leads that person to have an expanded and more inclusive social identity. The implications of this study for decreasing intergroup discrimination are discussed.