Citation

Glasford DE, Dovidio JF, Pratto F. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 2009; 35(4): 415-427.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0146167208329216

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present research examined the relation between in-group identification and the use of social identity— enhancing strategies for dealing with the discomfort associated with inconsistency between personal beliefs and in-group behavior (intragroup dissonance). Consistent with the hypothesis that social identity—enhancing strategies would be more effective at reducing intragroup dissonance for those highly identified with the in-group, Experiment 1 demonstrated that level of group identification moderated the effectiveness of group affirmation for reducing psychological discomfort associated with intragroup dissonance, but not the effectiveness of self-affirmation. In Experiment 2, which manipulated level of group identification, participants in a high-identification condition, relative to those in a low-identification condition, were more likely to choose to reduce intragroup dissonance with a strategy that enhanced social identity (i.e., out-group derogation) over a strategy less effective at social identity enhancement (i.e., activism to change the behavior of the group). Implications for intergroup relations are discussed.