Cognitive, motivational and ideological determinants of ingroup projection

This thesis examines the cognitive, motivational and ideological determinants of ingroup projection. Ingroup projection, which is defined as an ingroup’s claim or perception of relative prototypicality in an inclusive category, is associated with belief in a greater entitlement to the resources of the superordinate group, and legitimization of inequality and discrimination among subgroups. Previous research has shown the influence of complex superordinate category representations, subgroup and superordinate group identification and perceived threat to be likely determinants of ingroup projection. This thesis looked at the influence of various cognitive, motivational and ideological variables on ingroup projection including the coherence of the inclusive category, subgroup status, intergroup threat, ingroup identification, group affirmation and system justification.

The results supported the argument that all three processes can determine the extent of ingroup projection depending on the specific context. Findings supported the conclusion that ingroup projection is a result of heuristic information processing when the representation of the superordinate category lacked clarity. A complex superordinate category representation also reduced ingroup projection, although this was at the expense of superordinate group identification. Moreover, when superordinate group threat was salient, subgroup members who were informed that their subgroup’s status did not change distanced themselves from the threat source by inhibiting ingroup projection. Finally, the ideological motive to rationalize the status quo was observed among both low and high status subgroups through lowered levels of ingroup projection among low status subgroup members, and heightened levels of ingroup projection among high status subgroup members. Implications of these findings are discussed for the ingroup projection model as well as for intergroup relations in general.