An experimental investigation into the formation of intergroup representations

The aim was to study how the anticipated interaction between groups determines the representations groups have of each other. It is assumed that ingroup-outgroup representations serve some specific anticipatory function in that once a group knows the nature function interaction between itself & some outgroup will take, it will develop an image of the outgroup that will justify its intended behavior toward the outgroup. In the procedure S's were made to believe that according to their preferences for photographs they belonged to either an X-type or Y-type group. They were then asked to describe their own group & the other group on 7-point rating scales. It was shown that when S's are categorized into groups discrimination occurs such that the ingroup is more favorably represented than the outgroup before interaction takes place & also when no interaction is anticipated. E. Weiman.