Several hypotheses were investigated in relation to the group correspondence bias (GCB), an observer tendency to make correspondent attributions based on a contextually constrained group decision. It was predicted that processing mode (i.e., heuristic vs. systematic) would moderate observers' identification of constraint information and that the identification of constraint would, in turn, mediate the GCB. In addition, participants were provided with an expectancy about the target group, and it was expected that this information would place boundary conditions on the GCB. These predictions received strong support. The results also indicate that intragroup variability moderates the impact of expectancies on the GCB. More-over, observers generalized their attributions based on a constrained group decision, indicating that the GCB may have a widespread impact on the perceived character of individual group members.
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