Selective self-stereotyping.
In an examination of group members' responses to the threat of negative in-group characterizations, sorority/fraternity members were asked to rate themselves, their own sorority/fraternity, sororities/ fraternities in general, and students in general on attributes that were stereotypic of sororities/ fraternities. Results showed that individuals selectively self-stereotyped-they embraced positive stereotypes as highly descriptive of themselves and their closest in-groups but rejected negative stereotypes. They did not, however, deny that negative stereotypes were accurate or valid-they continued to accept them as typical of sororities/fraternities in general. This represents a protective, creative response to the threat posed by exposure to negative group attributes, in which self-stereotyping as a result of self-categorization is selective rather than complete.
Biernat
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M
Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045-2160, USA. biernat@statl.cc.ukans.edu
Vescio
T K
TK
Green
M L
ML
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019336:Cognitive Science; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012925:Social Conformity; D012933:Social Identification; D013240:Stereotyping