Intergroup similarity and subgroup relations: Some implications for assimilation

Two studies examined the effects of perceptions of similarity on relations between subgroups (humanities and math-science students) that share an acti ve superordinate category (University of Queensland student). Participants (N = 82) performed ct noninteractive task during which perceptions of inter subgroup similarity (high or low) and level of categorization (at the super ordinate level or at the superordinate and subgroup levels simultaneously) were manipulated in a 2 X 2 between-groups design. Consistent with social i dentity theory, participants who had been categorized exclusively at the su perordinate level discriminated more against a similar subgroup than a diss imilar one. However; when the subgroup and superordinate categories were ac tivated simultaneously, a trend emerged that was consistent with the Simila rity-attraction hypothesis. A similar interaction emerged in Study 2 (N = 2 65), in which perceptions of similarity were measured rather than manipulat ed. The results were interpreted in terms of the motivation to retain ingro up, distinctiveness.