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Motivated language use in intergroup contexts: need-for-closure effects on the linguistic intergroup bias
D M Webster1, A W Kruglanski, D A Pattison
1Department of Psychology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732, USA.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|May 1, 1997
Summary
People high in the need for cognitive closure use more abstract language to describe positive in-group and negative out-group behaviors. This linguistic abstraction effect was not observed for negative in-group behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Linguistic Psychology
Background:
- Understanding intergroup relations is crucial for social harmony.
- Linguistic abstraction can influence social perception and judgment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the motivation for cognitive closure affects linguistic abstraction in intergroup contexts.
- To explore the relationship between cognitive needs and language use when describing in-group versus out-group behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted.
- Participants described positive and negative behaviors of in-group and out-group members.
- Participants' need for cognitive closure was assessed.
Main Results:
- Individuals high in need for closure used more abstract language for positive in-group behaviors and negative out-group behaviors.
- This pattern of linguistic abstraction was not found for negative in-group behaviors.
- The findings highlight a motivated bias in language use.
Conclusions:
- The motivation for cognitive closure influences how individuals communicate about intergroup behaviors.
- Linguistic abstraction serves as a mechanism reflecting social cognition and motivational states.
- Results underscore the interplay between motivation, language, and social perception in intergroup dynamics.
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