BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION IN INTERGROUP PERCEPTION : A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Previous studies showed that intergroup perception is a compromise between the norms of in-group bias and fair-mindedness. Furthermore, such a compromise reflects on an internalized value rather than a deliberate attempt toward a positive self-presentation via response distortion. However, only the content of in-group bias and fairness were manipulated in these studies. That left the question pertaining to the effects of the extremity of in-group bias unanswered. This study investigated whether the effects of the evaluative extremity, an integral component of behavioural adaption would also support the compromise hypothesis. Toward this end, Chinese participants (N=640) of 7 to 19 years were randomly assigned to one of four intergroup scenarios: A Chinese rater portrayed as (a) showing an extreme in-group bias on competence but fairness on attraction, (b) showing a moderate in-group bias on competence but fairness on attraction, (c) showing an extreme in-group bias on attraction but fairness on competence, and (d) showing a moderate in-group bias on attraction but fairness on competence. Age of the participants was included to demonstrate an increasing acceptance of adaptive behaviours in intergroup relations with age. Results evinced that behaviourally adaptive intergroup perceptions were similarly valued along both competence and attraction dimensions. Participants formed a more favourable impression of a moderately in-group member than one extremely in-group biased. As anticipated, an interaction between this value and the age of the participants emerged. Specifically, the 13- to 19-year-olds indicated a clear preference for a moderate than an extreme in-group bias, whereas the 7- to 10-year-olds registered opposite responses. This finding argues for an increasing internalization of the compromise responses as a social value with age.