Metacontrast plays a role in the salience of self-categories. If the makeup of an out-group's makeup changes, the salience of self-categories  within the in-group will change. The in-group may strive to self-categorize to be more discernible from the out-group.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

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).

Comparative fit on self-categorization

Turner, J. C., Oakes, P. J., Haslam, S. A., & McGarty, C. (1994). Self and collective: Cognition and social context. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 20(5), 454-463.

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