Identical behaviors are cognitively encoded differently depending on group membership

Evidence

Positive outcomes and behaviors are more likely to be attributed to internal, stable characteristics (the personality) of ingroup than outgroup members, whereas negative outcomes and behaviors are more likely to be ascribed to the personalities of outgroup than ingroup members (Hewstone, 1990). Relatedly, observed behaviors of ingroup and outgroup members are encoded in memory at different levels of abstraction (Maass, Ceccarelli, & Rudin, 1996). Undesirable actions of outgroup members are encoded at more abstract levels that presume intentionality and dispositional origin (e.g., she is hostile) than identical behaviors of ingroup members (e.g., she slapped the girl). Desirable actions of outgroup members, however, are encoded at more concrete levels (e.g., she walked across the street holding the old man’s hand) relative to the same behaviors of ingroup members (e.g., she is helpful). These cognitive biases help to perpetuate social biases and stereotypes even in the face of countervailing evidence. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 554

In terms of information processing, people retain more information in a more detailed fashion for ingroup members than for outgroup members (Park & Rothbart, 1982). In addition, people are more generous and forgiving in their explanations for the behaviors of ingroup relative to outgroup members. Positive outcomes and behaviors are more likely to be attributed to internal, stable characteristics (the personality) of ingroup than outgroup members, whereas negative outcomes and behaviors are more likely to be ascribed to the personalities of outgroup than ingroup members (Hewstone, 1990). Relatedly, observed behaviors of ingroup and outgroup members are encoded in memory at different levels of abstraction (Maass, Ceccarelli, & Rudin, 1996). Undesirable actions of outgroup members are encoded at more abstract levels that presume intentionality and dispositional origin (e.g., she is hostile) than identical behaviors of ingroup members (e.g., she slapped the girl). Desirable actions of outgroup members, however, are encoded at more concrete levels (e.g., she walked across the street holding the old man’s hand) relative to the same behaviors of ingroup members (e.g., she is helpful). These cognitive biases help to perpetuate social biases and stereotypes even in the face of countervailing evidence. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 554

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to attribution theory and the fundamental attribution error; also to confirmation bias literature — the encoding asymmetry is a mechanism for stereotype persistence despite evidence. — connects to: Shared social reinforcement amplifies irrational rationalization of mistaken beliefs — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 88
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 554; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 554