Stability and Variability in National and European Self-Identification

This study examines how intergroup context effects on national and European self-identification are in part dependent upon the perceived category relations between relevant self-categories (Rutland & Cinnirella, 2000). Based upon the findings of a first study (N = 45) into the perceived similarity of Scottish, British and European self-categories, we successfully a priori predicted the direction of context effects on self-identification. Our second study (N = 104) found intergroup context effects on European self-identification but not Scottish and British self-identification. As anticipated, European self-identification decreased when Germans and Americans were included in the comparative intergroup context. This study extends previous research into intergroup context effects on self-identification by showing it is possible to predict the direction of such effects with prior consideration of the perceived category relations between self-categories.