Ingroup bias : the effect of status, legitimacy and cooperation on intergroup relations

Research on the effect of intergroup cooperation on intergroup relations has produced contradictory results. The functionalist proposition that cooperation leads to the reduction of intergroup discrimination has not been widely supported by empirical evidence. An emerging trend indicates that cooperation reduces bias only in circumstances where the distinction between ingroup and outgroup can be rendered less salient. The cognitive-motivational theory of intergroup relations (Tajfel and Turner, 1979) provides a framework through which intergroup bias and the salience of group distinctiveness may be understood as a function of the group's position on a status hierarchy and the perceived legitimacy of that status order. This study considered the effect of intergroup cooperation, compared with no cooperation and with intragroup cooperation, within this framework.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

1981

Author dc:creator

• Finchilescu, Gillian

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Du Preez, Peter

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18192

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/18192