Collective self-esteem, personal self-esteem, and collective efficacy in in-group and outgroup evaluations

In assessing the relationship between self-esteem and in-group/outgroup eva luations, this study examined whether self-esteem is better measured at a c ollective (collective self-esteem [CSE]) than a personal level (personal se lf-esteem [PSE]). It was expected that subjects high In CSE would engage in more in-group favoritism. (measured by in-group evaluations), whereas thos e low in CSE would engage in more outgroup derogation (measured by outgroup evaluations). No effect for PSE was predicted. Furthermore, the study expl ored whether perceptions of collective efficacy may underlie this relations hip. Subjects played a public goods task. The in-group's outcome was compar ed to the outcome of other relevant outgroups, enhancing pressures towards intergroup differentiation. Consistent with the predictions, subjects high in CSE evaluated in-group members more positively than those in low CSE (i. e., in-group favoritism), whereas subjects low in CSE evaluated outgroup me mbers more negatively than those high in CSE (i.e., outgroup derogation). A lso in line with our predictions, no effect for PSE was found. Perceptions of collective efficacy appeared to be a mediator of the effect of CSE.