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Abstract
This research investigated the effect of the competitive dimension of collective self-esteem contingency (CSEC-C). We hypothesized that CSEC-C would predict higher levels of intergroup bias, particularly when faced with an out-group threat. The validity of the CSEC-C measure was established among Canadian undergraduate participants (Study 1). In Study 2, Australian undergraduates received criticism versus praise from an in-group versus out-group member. Participants showed more bias after receiving criticism from an out-group than in-group member, but the effect was specific to high CSEC-C participants. Study 3 replicated these findings using a resource allocation measure. High CSEC-C participants also displayed a marginal drop in personal self-esteem after receiving an out-group criticism. All effects remained after controlling for identification and collective self-esteem.
Acknowledgments
This research was facilitated thanks to a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship and University of Queensland New Staff Start Up Funds attributed to CEA and an Australian Research Council-Discovery grant to MJH.
Notes
1. In Study 1, 26 participants were excluded because their nationality was not Canadian. In Study 2, 54 participants were excluded because they were not of Australian nationality. In Study 3, 6 participants were identified as non-Australians.
2. The level of identification as a covariate significantly predicted only the thermometer in-group bias measure. Nevertheless, and to ensure consistency across analyses, this covariate was kept in all analyses.
3. As in Study 2, no main effects or interaction effects were found for the country of the out-group speaker in the analyses. Again, these groups were collapsed.