Membership has its (epistemic) rewards: need for closure effects on in-group bias.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Three studies examined the impact of the need for cognitive closure on manifestations of in-group bias. All 3 studies found that high (vs. low) need for closure increased in-group favoritism and outgroup derogation. Specifically, Study 1 found a positive relation between need for cognitive closure and both participants' ethnic group identification and their collective self-esteem. Studies 2 and 3 found a positive relation between need for closure and participants' identification with an in-group member and their acceptance of an in-group member's beliefs and attitudes. Studies 2 and 3 also found a negative relation between need for closure and participants' identification with an out-group member and their acceptance of an out-group member's beliefs and attitudes. The implications of these findings for the epistemic function of in-groups are discussed.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Shah, JY; Kruglanski, AW; Thompson, EP
Published Date
- August 1998
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 75 / 2
Start / End Page
- 383 - 393
PubMed ID
- 9731314
Pubmed Central ID
- 9731314
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1939-1315
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-3514
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037//0022-3514.75.2.383
Language
- eng