title: Shooting the messenger: outsiders critical of your group are rejected regardless of argument quality.
abstract: People are more resistant to criticisms of their group when those criticisms are made by an outgroup rather than an ingroup member, a phenomenon referred to as the intergroup sensitivity effect (ISE). The current study compared four competing models of how argument quality would moderate the ISE, with a view to establishing the complex interrelationships between source and message effects in group-directed criticism. Quality of the argument affected responses to ingroup critics, but not to outgroup critics. For outsiders who wish to promote positive change and reform in a group culture, this leads to a somewhat depressing conclusion: their message is likely to be rejected regardless of whether it is objectively 'right', well-considered, well-justified, or well-argued.
authors: The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Sarah R
authors: SR
authors: Esposo
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Hornsey
authors: Jennifer R
authors: JR
authors: Spoor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008257:Machiavellianism; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012933:Social Identification