SOCIAL IDENTITY AND INTERGROUP EVALUATIVE BIAS - REALISTIC CATEGORIESAND DOMAIN-SPECIFIC SELF-ESTEEM IN A CONFLICT SETTING

Social identity theory predicts a link between self-esteem and intergr oup discrimination. Previous research has failed to find consistent su pport for this prediction. Much of this research has, however, been be set by a number of methodological shortcomings. These shortcomings may have hindered attempts to discern a consistent relationship between s elf-esteem and intergroup discrimination. The current investigation so ught to overcome these difficulties by utilizing, realistic groups, mu ltidimensional measures of self-esteem and testing self-esteem before and after the manifestation of intergroup evaluative bias. The results demonstrate that when the members of realistic groups engage in evalu ative intergroup bias, the esteem in which they hold specific self-ima ges is enhanced. Of the 13 facets of self-esteem delineated by the ins trument used in the present study significant increases were found in six particular domains: honesty, academic ability, verbal ability, phy sical appearance, religion and parental relations. Global self-esteem was unaffected by the display of bias. These findings emphasize the im portance of using realistic groups and domain specific self-esteem whe n attempting to assess the role of self-esteem in intergroup discrimin ation.