THE EFFECTS OF PREVALENT SOCIAL STEREOTYPES ON INTERGROUP ATTRIBUTION

The study tested three alternative hypotheses regarding intergroup att ribution patterns derived from the ethnocentric, the asymmetrical, and the stereotype-based models of intergroup attribution. Junior high sc hool pupils (284 males and 298 females) from majority and minority gro ups in Israel were asked to make internal-external attributions regard ing three different competencies awarded to an ingroup or outgroup mem ber. The results largely supported the stereotype-based model: Members of both groups made internal attributions for stereotype-consistent p ositive behavior and external attributions for stereotype-inconsistent positive behavior, for both the ingroup and the outgroup.