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Social group discovery, structure, and stereotype updating
Joel E Martinez1, Rachel H Krasner1, Laura Rosero1
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|August 21, 2025
Summary
Group stereotypes can change when individuals deviate. A study shows that highly deviant members are perceived as separate, altering group perceptions and beliefs about members.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Social Science
Background:
- Group stereotypes are rigid and contribute to discrimination.
- Understanding how group representations form and influence beliefs is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test a structure learning model's predictions on group perception and stereotype formation.
- To investigate how deviance within a group affects its representation and associated beliefs.
Main Methods:
- Seven experiments were conducted to examine human responses to group deviance.
- Participants' perceptions of group structure and confidence in beliefs were measured.
- A novel measure of stereotype precision based on agent similarity was developed and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Increased deviance led to the "subgrouping" and eventual "subtyping" of deviant agents.
- Confidence in group beliefs initially decreased with deviance but increased after subtyping.
- Exploratory analysis revealed stereotype precision correlates with perceived agent similarity.
Conclusions:
- Group representations are dynamic and influenced by member deviance.
- Deviance can lead to the formation of new subgroups or the exclusion of individuals.
- Stereotype precision is linked to the perceived homogeneity of group members.
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