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Status-based asymmetry in intergroup responses: Implications for intergroup reconciliation.
Thomas E Malloy1, Tiina Ristikari, Rosalie Berrios-Candelaria
1Department of Psychology, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA. tmalloy@ric.edu
Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology
|February 24, 2011
Summary
Racial out-group perception is asymmetric. Black Americans differentiate White Americans, but not vice versa, impacting intergroup relations and life outcome disparities.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Intergroup Relations
- Sociology
Background:
- Intergroup contact is theorized to reduce prejudice and improve relations.
- However, increased interracial contact has not fully resolved disparities for Black Americans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how relative intergroup status and familiarity influence intergroup responses.
- To understand the asymmetry in intergroup perception and its consequences.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: 68 participants (34 African Americans, 34 European Americans) engaged in dyadic interactions with out-group members.
- Study 2: Investigated the role of intergroup status differences in asymmetric responses.
Main Results:
- Intergroup perception, affect, and behavior were asymmetric.
- Black Americans differentiated traits and interactions with White Americans; White Americans did not.
- Participants inaccurately predicted how out-group members perceived them, with status influencing differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Asymmetric intergroup responses create barriers to reconciliation.
- These asymmetries partially explain the persistence of life outcome disparities for Black Americans despite increased contact.
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