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Does time reduce resistance to out‐group critics? An investigation of the persistence of the intergroup sensitivity effect over time
Author(s) -
Hiew Danika N.,
Hornsey Matthew J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1348/014466609x473938
Subject(s) - persistence (discontinuity) , psychology , social psychology , sensitivity (control systems) , resistance (ecology) , group (periodic table) , chemistry , organic chemistry , electronic engineering , engineering , biology , ecology , geotechnical engineering
Group‐directed criticism typically arouses greater defensiveness when it stems from an out‐group member as opposed to an in‐group member (the intergroup sensitivity effect). In light of work on the sleeper effect, the current research examines whether this defensiveness persists over time. Students received criticism of their faculty area from either a member of the same faculty area (in‐group condition), or a member of a different faculty area (out‐group condition), or they received no criticism (control condition). Despite relatively poor recall of the content of the criticism, the intergroup sensitivity effect (ISE) found immediately after presentation of the criticism had not significantly decreased 3–4 weeks later. However, the heightened intergroup bias found immediately after the out‐group criticism did dissipate with time. Implications of these results for those who wish to initiate social change as outsiders are discussed.