VARIATION OF OUT-GROUP PRESENCE AND EVALUATION OF THE IN-GROUP

According to the self-categorization theory of group formation (Turner , Hogg, Oakes, Reicher & Wetherell, 1987), a group comes into existenc e when its members perceive themselves as belonging to a certain categ ory. Based on this assumption, it is hypothesized that the extent of i n-group attraction and in-group similarity should depend on the degree to which the in-group is made salient. It was further predicted that this effect of in-group salience should hold true only for highly iden tified group members and not for persons who identify on a low level w ith the group in question. In an experiment, students of psychology (N = 126) evaluated an in-group member, i.e. a psychological counsellor, on the basis of a tape-recorded therapeutic session and under differe nt conditions of in-group salience. Either the in-group of psychologis ts was mentioned, or the in-group was introduced in the context of rel evant out-groups, or, in addition, a conflict between in-group and out -groups was pointed out. The data support the hypothesis: that is, an intergroup conflict increases in-group attraction and assumed similari ty.