SUBGROUP DIFFERENTIATION AND SUBGROUP BIAS AMONG LATINOS AS A FUNCTION OF FAMILIARITY AND POSITIVE DISTINCTIVENESS

The existence of subgroup differentiation and its impact on the develo pment of in-group bias were explored among Latinos. Consistent with pr ior evidence, Cubans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans were more likely tha n Anglos to distinguish between Latino subgroups. However, Latinos did not distinguish equally between Cubans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans. Latinos differentiated their own subgroup from others but were no more likely than Anglos to differentiate between Latino subgroups to which they did not belong. Latinos even regarded the term Hispanic as more applicable to members of their own subgroup than to members of other s ubgroups. This tendency among Latinos to view their own subgroup as di stinct from others was also linked to a basis for fellow subgroup memb ers but not for Latinos overall. Moreover, results suggested that subg roup differentiation was based more on a desire for positive distincti veness than on familiarity with members of different Latino subgroups.