title: Newcomers' cognitive development of social identification: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of self-anchoring and self-stereotyping.
abstract: Upon joining a new social category, group members strive to establish and maintain high social identification. Thus far, we know relatively little about the cognitive underpinnings of social identification when developing from a new to a well-established group member. This research investigates the differential impact of newcomers' self-stereotyping (i.e., assimilation of the self to group stereotypes) and self-anchoring (i.e., projection of self-attributes onto the ingroup) on the development of social identification over time. Across two time points during the academic year, first year psychology students (N = 123) filled in a questionnaire on their perceptions about the self, psychology students, and social identification. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses confirmed our hypotheses that self-anchoring instigated new group members' social identification, while self-stereotyping instigated social identification once group membership was more well-established. This research emphasizes the interactive role of the personal and social self in the development of social identification.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Veelen
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult