Effects of diversity versus segregation on automatic approach and avoidance behavior towards own and other ethnic groups

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

We present the results of a study in which we measured automatic intergroup behavior and evaluations in ethnic majority and minority group members. We focus our attention on the level of segregation and diversity of immediate life contexts as indicators of outgroup exposure. Specifically, Dutch ethnic minority and majority students enrolled at ethnically segregated and diverse schools completed a measure of automatic approach and avoidance behavior and reported explicit intergroup attitudes. The research is framed into prevailing theories in the field: Social Identity Theory and System Justification Theory. Results of our study suggest that segregation of minority group members' immediate life context may be an important moderator of evaluations as well as approach and avoidance behavior toward ingroup and outgroup. In particular, minority members in segregated schools showed an approach bias towards their ingroup, whereas minority members in diverse schools showed an approach bias towards the majority outgroup.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftEuropean Journal of Social Psychology
Jahrgang46
Ausgabenummer6
Seiten (von - bis)783-791
Anzahl der Seiten9
ISSN0046-2772
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.10.2016
Extern publiziertJa

DOI