Social Explanations and Self-Esteem in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The relationship between group-serving attributional biases and self-esteem among Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland was examined. There was little evidence of any consistently positive association between these variables. Differential patterns of group-serving biases were clearly evident. The Catholics demonstrated more pronounced levels of bias, whereas the Protestants tended to be more selective about the dimensions on which they displayed discrimination. These differential patterns of bias were consistent with each group's relative status position.

The Effects of Linguistic Voice on Evaluations and Attributions of Ingroup And Outgroup Members

“…This is an interesting prediction in light of the clear intergroup attributional bias found in previous research, in which internal attributions (e.g. responsibility) are made for positive ingroup behaviors and external the description attributions for negative ingroup behaviors, but the reverse pattern of attributions are made in outgroup members (Hunter, 1998;Hunter, Reid, & Stokell, 1998;Hunter, Stringer, & Coleman, 1993;Hunter, Stringer, & Watson, 1991;Hunter, Stringer, & Watson, 1992). However, the linguistic voice literature suggests that passive voice transformations reduce attentional prominence of the actor.…”

Social identity and intergroup evaluative bias: Realistic categories and domain specific self-esteem in a conflict setting

“…An important issue here is that similar, Rosenberg-type, scales have been used in many of the other studies which have attempted to examine the relationship between self-esteem and various forms of intergroup discrimination (e.g. Chin & McClintock, 1993;Hunter et al, 1993;Lemyre & Smith, 1985;Oakes & Turner, 1980). The results of such studies coupled with those of the present investigation indicate that it may be a mistake to assume that evaluative intergroup bias will necessarily affect global self-esteem.…”

Gangs in Nigeria: an updated examination

“…The theory is based on the comparisons that individuals draw between in-groups-groups to which a person feels he or she belongs-and out-groups-groups to which a person feels he or she does not belong [127]. SIT has directed much of the research on identity and intergroup relations over the past two decades [49], particularly the study of intergroup discrimination [94] and group status [96]. SIT has become one of the main theoretical models in European social psychology [91].…”