The Relative Impact of Socio-Structural Characteristics on Behavioral Reactions Against Membership in a Low-Status Group

Abstract

This experiment examined how structural characteristics of an intergroup relationship influence the behavioral reactions by members of a low-status group. Participants were 542 pupils (aged 11-12 years) who were led to believe that their school class had a low intergroup status. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design was created by manipulating the legitimacy of the low group status, the stability of that status, the permeability of the group boundaries, and the perceived of the individual ability of the group members. Contrary to predictions derived from existing intergroup theories, these factors did not interact in determining participants’ strategy choice. The three feasibility factors (i.e. stability, permeability, and individual ability) produced substantial main effects on the choice between individual and collective strategies. The impact of legitimacy on strategy choice was rather modest and limited to collective nonnormative action and acceptance. On the other hand, legitimacy was an important determinant of ingroup bias as measured by a monetary division task. The implications for existing intergroup theories are discussed.