M. Blanz et al., NORMATIVE EVALUATIONS AND FREQUENCY EXPECTATIONS REGARDING POSITIVE VERSUS NEGATIVE OUTCOME ALLOCATIONS BETWEEN GROUPS, European journal of social psychology, 27(2), 1997, pp. 165-176
Data from several recent studies consistently show a positive-negative
asymmetry in social discrimination: within a minimal social situation
tendencies cowards ingroup favouritism which usually appear in alloca
tions of positively valenced resources are absent in the domain of neg
atively valenced stimuli. The present study investigates whether this
valence-asymmetry has any correspondence to variations in normative ev
aluations of positive versus negative outcome allocations. For this pu
rpose perceptions of normative appropriateness as well as frequency ex
pectations of outside observers regarding outcome allocations made by
categorized group members were investigated. Results show that parity
choices were perceived as more normatively appropriate than out- or in
group favouritism. While out group favouritism was judged as inapprop
riate as in group favouritism for positive resources, in group favouri
ng decisions for negative resources were perceived as the least approp
riate response within the minimal social situation. In addition, in co
ntrast to results of St. Claire and Turner (1982) non-categorized subj
ects expected ingroup favouring decisions by group members more freque
ntly than parity or outgroup favouring choices with respect to positiv
ely valanced resources. When, however, negative resources were to be a
llocated outgroup favouritism was predominantly expected. Results are
discussed in terms of justice considerations and are linked to a norma
tive account of the positive-negative asymmetry in social discriminati
on.