Abstract
In this research, we examine how sudden shifts in social identity can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. According to dual system models of attitudes, implicit attitude change is often slow and insensitive to explicit cues or goals. However, the social identity approach suggests that the intergroup context can shape nearly every aspect of social cognition from explicit preferences to implicit evaluations. In three experiments, we test whether explicit cues about social identity and the intergroup context can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. We find that people quickly develop an implicit preference favoring their in-group relative to the out-group—even when the group assignments are arbitrary. Importantly, this pattern of implicit intergroup bias quickly shifts following subtle changes in the intergroup context. When we frame the two groups as cooperative (vs. competitive), implicit intergroup bias is eliminated. Finally, being switched from one minimal group to the other reverses implicit intergroup bias, leading people to favor their new in-group (and former out-group). Individual differences in the degree to which people readily switch their implicit intergroup preference are correlated with their need to belong. In sum, these studies provide evidence that social identity cues and goals rapidly tune implicit evaluation. This research not only speaks to the influence of social identity on implicit cognition, but also has implications for models of attitude development and change.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 55-69 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology |
| Volume | 83 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Attitudes
- Competition
- Evaluation
- Groups
- Social identity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
Sudden shifts in social identity swiftly shape implicit evaluation. / Xiao, Yi Jenny; Van Bavel, Jay.
In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 83, 01.07.2019, p. 55-69.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sudden shifts in social identity swiftly shape implicit evaluation
AU - Xiao, Yi Jenny
AU - Van Bavel, Jay
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - In this research, we examine how sudden shifts in social identity can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. According to dual system models of attitudes, implicit attitude change is often slow and insensitive to explicit cues or goals. However, the social identity approach suggests that the intergroup context can shape nearly every aspect of social cognition from explicit preferences to implicit evaluations. In three experiments, we test whether explicit cues about social identity and the intergroup context can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. We find that people quickly develop an implicit preference favoring their in-group relative to the out-group—even when the group assignments are arbitrary. Importantly, this pattern of implicit intergroup bias quickly shifts following subtle changes in the intergroup context. When we frame the two groups as cooperative (vs. competitive), implicit intergroup bias is eliminated. Finally, being switched from one minimal group to the other reverses implicit intergroup bias, leading people to favor their new in-group (and former out-group). Individual differences in the degree to which people readily switch their implicit intergroup preference are correlated with their need to belong. In sum, these studies provide evidence that social identity cues and goals rapidly tune implicit evaluation. This research not only speaks to the influence of social identity on implicit cognition, but also has implications for models of attitude development and change.
AB - In this research, we examine how sudden shifts in social identity can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. According to dual system models of attitudes, implicit attitude change is often slow and insensitive to explicit cues or goals. However, the social identity approach suggests that the intergroup context can shape nearly every aspect of social cognition from explicit preferences to implicit evaluations. In three experiments, we test whether explicit cues about social identity and the intergroup context can swiftly shape implicit evaluations. We find that people quickly develop an implicit preference favoring their in-group relative to the out-group—even when the group assignments are arbitrary. Importantly, this pattern of implicit intergroup bias quickly shifts following subtle changes in the intergroup context. When we frame the two groups as cooperative (vs. competitive), implicit intergroup bias is eliminated. Finally, being switched from one minimal group to the other reverses implicit intergroup bias, leading people to favor their new in-group (and former out-group). Individual differences in the degree to which people readily switch their implicit intergroup preference are correlated with their need to belong. In sum, these studies provide evidence that social identity cues and goals rapidly tune implicit evaluation. This research not only speaks to the influence of social identity on implicit cognition, but also has implications for models of attitude development and change.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Competition
KW - Evaluation
KW - Groups
KW - Social identity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063285130&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063285130&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesp.2019.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jesp.2019.03.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063285130
VL - 83
SP - 55
EP - 69
JO - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
SN - 0022-1031
ER -