TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of diversity versus segregation on automatic approach and avoidance behavior towards own and other ethnic groups

AU - Degner, Juliane

AU - Essien, Iniobong

AU - Reichardt, Regina

PY - 2016/10/1

Y1 - 2016/10/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - ingroup favoritism

KW - system justification

KW - intergroup relations

KW - segregation

KW - diversity

KW - implicit attitudes

KW - approach-avoidance behavior

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84997693721&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/ejsp.2234

DO - 10.1002/ejsp.2234

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 46

SP - 783

EP - 791

JO - European Journal of Social Psychology

JF - European Journal of Social Psychology

SN - 0046-2772

IS - 6

ER -