Communicating to Resolve the "Mommy Wars": Testing Communicated Stereotypes and the Common Ingroup Identity Model with Stay-at-Home and Working Mothers

Abstract. Mediated intergroup contact and extended contact hypothesis research shows that observing a positive intergroup interaction can result in improved attitudes toward the outgroup. This experiment tested the common ingroup identity model and how the creation of a superordinate identity among characters in a television narrative influences viewers’ willingness to interact with outgroup members and attitudes toward the outgroup. Results reveal that self-efficacy, anxiety, and inclusion of the outgroup in the self mediated the relationship between exposure to narratives featuring intergroup interdependence and both positive attitudes toward and greater willingness to interact with the outgroup. That is, participants who watched a narrative featuring high levels of intergroup teamwork reported increased feelings of self-efficacy when considering future outgroup interactions, which was associated with lower levels of outgroup anxiety. Lower levels of anxiety were then associated with increased inclusion of the outgroup in the self, which was ultimately associated with more positive attitudes toward and greater willingness to interact with the outgroup. These results suggest that, even when comparing the effects of two narratives that portray an identical, positive outcome, positive effects on attitudes toward and willingness to interact with outgroup members are stronger when ingroup and outgroup members display interdependence. This research represents a step toward understanding the ways that the common ingroup identity model might help explain the extended contact hypothesis and the mechanisms by which narratives can affect attitudes toward and willingness to interact with outgroup members.

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Die, Foul Creature! How the Supernatural Genre Affects Attitudes Toward Outgroups Through Strength of Human Identity

Communication Research ◽

10.1177/0093650215609674 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 502-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Morgan E. Ellithorpe ◽

David R. Ewoldsen ◽

Kelsey Porreca

Keyword(s):

African Americans ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Identity Model ◽

The Common ◽

Common Ingroup Identity Model ◽

Common Ingroup Identity ◽

Media Narratives ◽

Prejudicial Attitudes ◽

Group Diversity ◽

Ingroup Identity

The presence of non-humans in media narratives - for example, in the supernatural genre - may make salient that we are all human. According to the common ingroup identity model, the human superordinate category should influence attitudes toward lower-level outgroups. The present study examines this in the context of ethnic outgroups, specifically African Americans. Similarity of supernatural villains to humans was manipulated to influence whether “human” was a relevant superordinate group. Additionally, character race was varied to understand the influence of group diversity cues. Consistent with the common ingroup identity model, exposure to a Black human character fighting non-humans reduces prejudice toward African Americans, and this reduced prejudice generalizes to other minority groups. Results suggest a complex relationship between exposure to supernatural villains and diversity cues on attitudinal outcomes, with identity as human as one possible mechanism for reducing prejudicial attitudes.

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Addressing Contemporary Racism: The Common Ingroup Identity Model

THE NEBRASKA SYMPOSIUM ON MOTIVATION - Motivational Aspects of Prejudice and Racism ◽

10.1007/978-0-387-73233-6_5 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 111-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Samuel L. Gaertner ◽

John F. Dovidio

Keyword(s):

Identity Model ◽

The Common ◽

Common Ingroup Identity Model ◽

Common Ingroup Identity ◽

Ingroup Identity

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Superordinate Categorization as a Moderator of Mutual Infrahumanization

Group Processes & Intergroup Relations ◽

10.1177/1368430209343297 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 731-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Ruth Gaunt

Keyword(s):

Intergroup Conflict ◽

Superordinate Category ◽

Identity Model ◽

The Common ◽

Common Ingroup Identity Model ◽

Ingroup Identification ◽

Common Ingroup Identity ◽

Ingroup Identity ◽

Moderating Role

This research applies the Common Ingroup Identity Model (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2000) to explore the moderating role of superordinate categorization in infrahumanization. Two studies were conducted within the context of an inter-racial intergroup conflict. As hypothesized, perceived outgroup identification with the superordinate category (Study 1) or identification with the superordinate category (Study 2) was related to a weaker tendency to infrahumanize the outgroup by attributing it a lesser degree of secondary emotions. In addition, weak ingroup identification eliminated infrahumanization in Study 2. The implications of these findings for infrahumanization research are discussed.

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