40 Years of Multiple Social Categorization: A Tool for Social Inclusivity

Abstract

We review a 40-year corpus of research that we collectively name 'Multiple Categorization Theory' (MCT). From early illustrations using the minimal group paradigm, through a focus on how people cognitively represent social diversity, to recent models of outgroup 're-humanization', this work has revealed much about how we think about inclusivity, exclusion, and intergroup differences. We review research that assessed ways to reduce intergroup bias by attenuating the reliance on simple categorization via 'crossed categorization'. We describe how this research evolved from a focus on intergroup differences to incorporate self-categorization, through processes of decategorization and increased social identity complexity. Finally, we consider contemporary models that reveal the generalized benefits of multiple categorization in promoting outgroup 're-humanization' through 'cognitive liberalization'. We conclude by highlighting the theoretical and practical implications of this research programme.

Strategies for the promotion of humanity attribution to outgroups

“…The second approach is based on multiple categorisation, a strategy predicated on the notion that individuals can process simultaneously several distinct social categorisations (Crisp & Meleady, 2012). The underlying rationale is that dichotomous ingroup-outgroup distinctions become less meaningful for intergroup judgments with the increase in the number of social categorisations used to evaluate others (Crisp & Hewstone, 2007;Prati et al, 2021). Prati et al (2016) investigated the multiple categorisation approach in three experimental studies where they varied the intergroup context considered and adopted different measures of humanity attribution (by employing uniquely human emotions or traits).…”

The citizen preferences–positive externality trade-off: A survey study of COVID-19 vaccine deployment in Japan

“…Additionally, our finding that exclusionist attitudes toward foreigners are mitigated by positive occupational externalities reminds us of crossed categorization, which refers to situations in which interactions between different categories such as citizenship, ethnicity, occupation, race, or religion might mitigate exclusionist attitudes toward outsiders, as defined in terms of one of the categories of interest ( Crisp & Hewstone, 2007 ; Deschamps & Doise, 1978 ; Grigoryan, 2020 ; Prati et al, 2021 ). Since the design of our background characteristics survey does not allow us to evaluate cases in which Japanese respondents’ own attributes other than citizenship, such as occupation or living with an elderly individual, are the same as or different from those of foreigners, we cannot directly compare our results with results based on the crossed-categorization hypothesis.…”

Gender identification and attitudes toward gay people: Gender and sexuality differences and similarities

“…In the current study, respondents who perceived themselves as similar to other members of a gender in-group and believed that all men (or women) are alike (i.e., the cognitive component of gender identification) reported more negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. One might interpret this as meaning that bias interventions should be aimed at increasing the use of complex ways of thinking about outgroup members to reduce negative attitudes, along with discriminatory behaviors (for more on the topic see Prati et al, 2020).…”