Concept

Comparative fit on self-categorization

The salience of different self-categories depends on what group the self (in-group) is being compared to. In a study on how different countries were viewed in the gulf-war, (Haslem, Turner Oakes, McGartey and Hayes 1992) found that the stereotype of Americans (and other countries) changed throughout the war and depending on who the group was compared to. For example, when Australians were judged on their own, they were reported to be categorized as happy-go-lucky, straightforward and sportsmanlike. When judged in the context of Americans they were considered more sportsmanlike, less happy-go-lucky than before. People also noted that they were pleasure loving (not recognized before the additional context).

0

1

Updated 2020-07-16

Tags

Psychology

Social Science

Empirical Science

Science