Ingroup identification moderates stereotype change in reaction to ingroup deviance

An experiment (N=98) investigated the moderating effect of ingroup identification on reactions to

deviant ingroup members. We measured psychology students’ level of identification with the group

‘psychologists’ and presented them with information about either a normative or deviant psychologist.

Participants completed an ingroup stereotype measure either before or after reading about and

evaluating the target psychologist. High identifiers expressed a more positive stereotype of the ingroup

after, compared to before, reading about a deviant ingroup member. High identifiers also expressed a

more positive stereotype of the ingroup after reading about a deviant than after reading about a

normative ingroup member. By contrast, low identifiers’ stereotype judgements were relatively

unaffected by the target information. The target evaluation ratings indicate that high identifiers

were more positive than low identifiers towards the normative ingroup member, but were more negative

than low identifiers towards the deviant. The results point to the greater motivational demands on high

identifiers to maintain a positive image of the group.