Intergroup differentiation in social context: Identity needs versus audience constraints

In this paper we investigate intergroup differentiation in different social contexts. Although low group status motivates group members to display bia ses favoring the in-group, the awareness that others perceive their group, as having low-status may prevent them front openly claiming in-group superi ority. The interplay between these two considerations may account for incon sistency in findings in the literature regarding displays of in-group favor itism in lower-status-groups. In two experiments we investigate whether peo ple rate their group differently (1) in private and in public situations, ( 2) in intragroup and in intergroup contexts, and (3) when their strength of in-group identification differs Results show that members of lower-status groups are more likely to acknowledge in-group inferiority in public than i n private situations. Furthermore, strength of identification affects the r elative importance of different audiences: High identifiers adapt their res ponses in an intragroup situation, while low identifiers are more sensitive to the audience in an intergroup context.