Ingroup Bias as a Function of Competition and Race

Abstract

The present experiment investigated factors that enhance the salience of group membership and consequent ingroup bias. Subject dyads, who were always white, were either competitive or interdependent with either white or black confederate dyads. Ingroup bias was assessed as a function of attraction toward the outgroup (experimental confederates) relative to the ingroup (naive subjects). The greater the difference between ingroup and outgroup attraction, the greater the ingroup bias. Results demonstrated that ingroup bias was greater when groups were competitive than when they were interdependent, and greater when the outgroup was black than when the outgroup was white. The findings suggest an improved methodology for studying interracial conflict.