Relationship between Self-Typicality and the In-Group Subtypes Effect

Abstract

According to previous research, members of a social category draw a greater number of subtype distinctions within their own category than nonmembers do. But do category members themselves differ in the number of in-group subtype distinctions that they draw? In Study 1, students who considered themselves relatively typical of their fraternity or sorority listed a greater number of subtypes for their own than for other fraternities or sororities; students who considered themselves relatively atypical did not. In Study 2, athletes listed a greater number of subtypes for their own sports team if they were considered relatively typical by both themselves and teammates than if they were considered relatively typical only by themselves, only by teammates, or by neither. Possible explanations for the "in-group subtypes effect" are discussed.