This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mummendey, A. Articles by Kessler, T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mummendey, A. Articles by Kessler, T. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Positive-Negative Asymmetry in Social Discrimination: Valence of Evaluation and Salience of Categorization

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany, s7muam{at}uni-jena.de

Sabine Otten

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

Uwe Berger

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

Thomas Kessler

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

Several studies have consistently demonstrated a positive-negative asymmetry in intergroup discrimination. As a possible explanation for this effect, the authors investigated whether stimulus valence has an impact on the salience of social categorization, which, in turn, is assumed to determine the degree of intergroup differentiation. It was hypothesized that the confrontation with negative stimuli instigates a change in the level of inclusiveness of self-categorization, inhibiting the differentiation based on the initial social categorization. Two studies with factors valence (positive, negative) and salience (low, high) were conducted to test these assumptions. Results were encouraging with respect to a category-based explanation of the valence effects on social discrimination. Implications of these findings for classical theories on behavior in minimal intergroup situations are discussed.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Castelli, S. Tomelleri, and C. Zogmaister Implicit Ingroup Metafavoritism: Subtle Preference for Ingroup Members Displaying Ingroup Bias Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 2008; 34(6): 807 - 818. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C.-B. Zhong, K. W. Phillips, G. J. Leonardelli, and A. D. Galinsky Negational Categorization and Intergroup Behavior Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 2008; 34(6): 793 - 806. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Y. Shah, P. C. Brazy, and E. T. Higgins Promoting Us or Preventing Them: Regulatory Focus and Manifestations of Intergroup Bias Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2004; 30(4): 433 - 446. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. E. Amiot and R. Y. Bourhis Discrimination and the Positive-Negative Asymmetry Effect: Ideological and Normative Processes Pers Soc Psychol Bull, May 1, 2003; 29(5): 597 - 608. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Verkuyten and L. Hagendoorn In-Group Favoritism and Self-Esteem: The Role of Identity Level and Trait Valence Group Processes Intergroup Relations, October 1, 2002; 5(4): 285 - 297. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Q. Li and Y.-Y. Hong Intergroup Perceptual Accuracy Predicts Real-Life Intergroup Interactions Group Processes Intergroup Relations, October 1, 2001; 4(4): 341 - 354. [Abstract] [PDF]