Defining oneself by what one is not can recategorize former out-groups as in-group members.

Evidence

In addition to changing people’s frame of reference from the in-group to the out-group, negational identification may lead to redefinition of category boundaries. Zhong et al. (2008a) manipulated the salience of negational identity by asking Asian and Latino participants to write about either their experiences as a non-white person or as a member of their racial in-group. When negational identity was made salient, participants were more likely to report that they would vote for Barack Obama (a nonwhite candidate) instead of Hilary Clinton (a white candidate) if given these choices in the Democratic primary. Although not directly tested, it is possible that people previously considered out-group members (blacks) were recategorized as in-group members (nonwhites) when negational identity was made salient (Zhong et al., 2008a). — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1115

Categorization

• XREF: Corroborates and complicates the ingroup/outgroup mechanism thread from the Allport reassessment — negational identity is a non-derogation route to grouping that Allport’s framework treats less centrally. — connects to: Identity can be formed negationally by focusing on group non-membership. — Chen-Bo Zhong, Adam D. Galinsky, and Miguel M. Unzueta, Negational racial identity and…, 17
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1115