This study examines the content of European nationality stereotypes held by adolescents from six Central and Eastern European countries and in‐group favouritism on the dimensions underlying these nationality stereotypes. It was found that the content of nationality stereotypes reflects a competence and a morality dimension, and that each dimension is related to perceived structural or relational features of nation states. The attribution of competence‐related traits to out‐group nationalities is strongly related to the perceived economic power of the nation states and the attribution of morality‐related traits to the size of the nation states, as well as perceived conflicts of interests, nationalism and economic power. The participants did not blindly favour their in‐group over all foreign nationalities on competence or morality. The tendency to perceive Western European nationalities as more competent than the in‐group reflects a social reality constraint due to lower economic status. Furthermore, in‐group favouritism on competence decreased as a function of the economic status and size of out‐groups, while ingroup favouritism on morality increased as a function of economic status and size of out‐groups. These results are interpreted in terms of self‐categorization theory and social identity theory.

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In this study the determinants of the content of Western European stereotypes are investigated. The content of the stereotypes was reflected in four dimensions: attributed efficiency, emotionality, empathy and dominance. Attributed efficiency appeared to be determined by social factors, such as perceived economic development and social security, along with the geographical location of the stereotyped nation. Attributed emotionality was solely related to the north—south location of the stereotyped national. Attributed empathy and dominance were related to perceived political power and nationalism and to the geographical size of the stereotyped nation. The effects of the geographical factors are interpreted in terms of cultural, economic and historical factors associated with or relating to these geographical factors. The research and its results are placed in the framework of Von Ehrenfels' thesis of a north—south polarization effect in nationality stereotypes.

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