EXTENDING THE BENEFITS OF RECATEGORIZATION - EVALUATIONS, SELF-DISCLOSURE, AND HELPING

The Common Ingroup Identity Model proposes that if members of differen t groups conceive of themselves more as a single group rather than as two separate groups, intergroup bias will be reduced through processes involving pro-ingroup favoritism. The present research extended work on this model by investigating the effects of recategorization on inte rgroup behavior, specifically helping and self-disclosure, as well as evaluations. Participants first worked as members of two three-person groups, and then the two groups interacted under conditions designed t o enhance a two-group representation or recategorization with an inclu sive one-group representation. As expected, the manipulation of the in tergroup contact situation that created stronger impressions of one gr oup reduced intergroup bias in evaluations, self-disclosure, and helpi ng. Furthermore, ratings of the extent to which the six participants f elt like one group mediated the reduction in bias, particularly for ev aluative bias. Conditions facilitating the generalization of the benef its of recategorization to group members not present and to other grou ps are considered. (C) 1997 Academic Press.