Distinctiveness threat shifts behavior more than judgment, though its effect size is tiny.

Evidence

In a recent meta-analysis, Jetten, Spears, and Postmes (2004) found that although threats to distinctiveness did not necessarily impact intergroup judgments, these threats did influence behavioral reactions. When intergroup distinctiveness is low and thus distinctiveness threat is high, intergroup behavioral biases (e.g., in resource allocation tasks) tend to be stronger then when distinctiveness threat is low. However, the average effect size for this relationship was relatively small (r = .046). — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 64

Categorization

• XREF: Supports the meta-analytic theme that distinctiveness-type threats are the weakest predictor arm of intergroup threat — worth quoting against MOC’s blanket threat claims. — connects to: Distinctiveness threats shift outgroup behavior but barely affect outgroup judgments.; Different threat types may yield different behavioral responses beyond attitudes. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 138; Threat to distinctiveness drives more complex identity structures, but evidence is sparse — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 580 (+4 more)
• QUESTION: r=.046 across behaviors while self-esteem threats show stronger effects — worth chasing whether small distinctiveness effects persist across the broader literature.

Broader Connections

• Distinctiveness threats shift outgroup behavior but barely affect outgroup judgments. #corroborates (0.95)
• Experimental group threat causally reduces perceived complexity of one’s own group memberships. #qualifies (0.82) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 574
• Perceived threat to group distinctiveness reduces social identity complexity #qualifies (0.78)
• Experimentally manipulated realistic threat shows far weaker attitude effects than measured threat #corroborates (0.75) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 119
• Different threat types may yield different behavioral responses beyond attitudes. #expands (0.72) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 138
• Threat to distinctiveness drives more complex identity structures, but evidence is sparse #qualifies (0.72) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 580
• Threat can spur overfriendly behavior aimed at proving non-prejudice #exemplifies (0.72) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 21