Helping to improve the group stereotype

Nick Hopkins, Steve Reicher, Kate Harrison, Clare Cassidy, Rebecca Bull, Mark Levine

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    148 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Three studies consider a basis for intergroup helping. Specifically, they show that group members may help others to disconfirm a stereotype of their own group as mean. Study 1 shows that Scots believe they are seen as mean by the English, resent this stereotype, are motivated to refute it, and believe out-group helping is a particularly effective way of doing so. Study 2 shows that increasing the salience of the English stereotype of the Scottish as mean leads Scots to accentuate the extent to which Scots are depicted as generous. Study 3 shows that increasing the salience of the stereotype of the Scots as mean results in an increase in the help volunteered to out-group members. These results highlight how strategic concerns may result in out-group helping. In turn, they underscore the point that helping others may be a means to advance a group's interest.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)776-788
    Number of pages13
    JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin
    Volume33
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

    Keywords

    • Metastereotypes
    • Prosocial behavior
    • Out-group helping

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