Tests of both corollaries of social identity theory's self-esteem hypothesis in real group settings

The present study tests both corollaries of the self‐esteem hypothesis from social identity theory derived by Abrams and Hogg (1988). Greek students completed a pre‐test collective self‐esteem (CSE) measure and then rated Greek students and either American or Turkish students. They then completed a post‐test collective self‐esteem measure. Inconsistent with Corollary 2, higher prior CSE was associated both with higher in‐group ratings and higher out‐group ratings, but not with bias. Consistent with Corollary 1, change in CSE was positively associated with bias, positively associated with in‐group ratings and negatively associated with out‐group ratings. There were no differences due to type of out‐group. The findings are consistent with the idea that, for specific comparisons between real groups, individual differences in self‐esteem may affect the zone within which bias occurs rather than the amount of bias. However, achieving increases in self‐esteem depends on establishing positive distinctiveness for the in‐group in the context of a specific intergroup comparison.