Self-esteem and favoritism toward novel in-groups: the self as an evaluative base.
The self-as-evaluative base (SEB) hypothesis proposes that self-evaluation extends automatically via an amotivated consistency process to affect evaluation of novel in-groups. Four minimal group studies support SEB. Personal trait self-esteem (PSE) predicted increased favoritism toward a novel in-group that, objectively, was equivalent to the out-group (Study 1). This association was independent of information-processing effects (Study 1), collective self-esteem, right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), and narcissism (Studies 2 and 3). A self-affirmation manipulation attenuated the association between in-group favoritism and an individual difference associated with motivated social identity concerns (RWA) but did not alter the PSE effect (Study 3). Finally, the association between PSE and in-group favoritism remained positive even when the in-group was objectively less favorable than the out-group (Study 4).
Gramzow
Richard H
RH
Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA. r.gramzow@neu.edu
Gaertner
Lowell
L
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires