Outgroup favoritism: The role of power perception, gender, and conservatism

Abstract

Ingroup bias is a hallmark of intergroup relations. A growing body of research is now showing that outgroup bias is also a prevalent phenomenon, particularly among members of low-status groups. This research examines how perceptions of powerful outgroups are affected by their perceived legitimacy, and the ingroup members' gender, social dominance orientation, and conservatism. Based on a sample of 70 participants and a three-group experimental design (legitimate, illegitimate, no-explanation), the results showed that illegitimacy rather than legitimacy was associated with perceptions of power; that people attributed more positive traits when explanations for power were given than when they were not; that women perceived powerful groups as more powerful than men did; and that men, high social dominants and conservatives attributed less positive traits to a powerful group than women, low social dominants and liberals, respectively.