(Deviant) Friends With Benefits

Abstract

Although ethnic deviants are typically disliked, we argue that minority group members may strategically befriend them. In Study 1, Asian and White Australians ( N = 536) read a Facebook profile of an Asian or White target who exhibited either stereotypically Asian or White Australian characteristics. Overall, Asian Australians liked in-group ethnic deviants less than normative in-group targets. However, among Asians who perceived high intergroup permeability, the effect reversed on measures of social acceptance: Ethnic deviants were more likely to be befriended than normative group members. This pattern was not observed among Asians who perceived low permeability or among White Australians. In Study 2, we show that Asians ( N = 118) who perceive high intergroup permeability desire integration more and perceive ethnic deviance as useful in achieving it—they consequently prefer ethnically deviant White and Asian friends. We discuss minority group members’ preference for ethnic deviance in light of their social mobility motives.