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Intergroup visual perspective-taking: Shared group membership impairs self-perspective inhibition but may facilitate
Austin J Simpson1, Andrew R Todd1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Cognition
|June 13, 2017
Summary
Social cognition is complex. This study reveals that egocentric intrusions in visual perspective-taking are stronger for ingroup members, but perspective calculation remains unaffected by group membership.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding others' perspectives is crucial for social interaction.
- Even healthy adults make errors in visual perspective-taking.
- Group membership can influence social cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of target group membership (ingroup vs. outgroup) on visual perspective-taking processes.
- To determine if egocentric intrusions or spontaneous perspective calculation are modulated by the target's group affiliation.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using university affiliation and minimal groups as bases for identity.
- Participants engaged in visual perspective-taking tasks involving ingroup and outgroup targets.
- Process-dissociation analyses were employed to isolate automatic perspective calculation.
Main Results:
- Egocentric intrusion was significantly stronger when taking the perspective of an ingroup member compared to an outgroup member.
- Altercentric intrusion, reflecting spontaneous perspective calculation, did not differ based on target group membership.
- Process-dissociation analyses showed negligible effects of target group membership on perspective calculation.
Conclusions:
- Shared group membership amplifies egocentric biases in visual perspective-taking.
- Automatic perspective calculation processes appear robust to target group membership.
- Findings suggest that social group dynamics play a role in modulating social cognition, particularly in self-other perspective conflicts.
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