Group status determines whether advantage or disadvantage thoughts produce distress

Evidence

Branscombe (1998) found preliminary support for the link between recognition of group inequity and feelings of distress. When members of a high status group (men) thought about their group-based advantages, they reported distress; however, when they thought about groupbased disadvantages, they reported psychological well-being. The opposite pattern was true for a low status group (women) where thoughts of group-based disadvantage resulted in reported distress, whereas thoughts of group-based advantage resulted in reports of well-being. The finding that thoughts of disadvantage for men and privilege for women result in increased well-being initially seems to contradict the predictions of distress due to inequity. Upon closer examination, it may be that group status influences perceived inputs and outputs such that thoughts of advantage for a low status individual and thoughts of disadvantage for a high status individual act to restore perceived equity. Those that are actually over benefited (i.e., high status men) perceive equity by focusing on disadvantages, whereas those that are actually under benefited (i.e., low status women) perceive equity by focusing on advantages. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 438

Categorization

• XREF: Equity-restoring perception logic connects to system-justification and the reader’s glorification/attachment interest: high-status glorifiers may defensively focus on disadvantages exactly to restore perceived equity. — connects to: Perceived group inequity motivates distress that drives restorative action — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 431; Outcome focus determines whether advantaged groups feel guilt or sympathy. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 111; Group status moderates threat-attitude relationships — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 152 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Group status moderates threat-attitude relationships #expands (0.78) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 152
• Intergroup contact asymmetries moderate how much anxiety shapes outgroup attitudes by status #corroborates (0.75) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 130
• Outcome focus determines whether advantaged groups feel guilt or sympathy. #expands (0.72) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 111
• Threat effects on attitudes are stronger for low-status than high-status outgroups #corroborates (0.72) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 129