Identification with even meaningless categories can drive discrimination

Evidence

The starting point for this theory was the discovery that the mere fact of being categorized as a group member, however “minimal” that group might be, is sufficient to trigger some elementary intergroup differentiation and discrimination (Tajfel, Flament, Billig, & Bundy, 1971). These findings occasioned many researchers to conclude that simply belonging to a group – providing someone with a primitive form of social identity – can lay the foundations of prejudice towards outgroups. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 430 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Data’s core function is differentiation, which compounds existing social discrimination. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 125; Race proxies like phenotype can be out-performed with enough practiced identification — Cyra Akila Choudhury, Racecraft and Identity in the Emergence…, 89; Classification and symbolization alone are harmless unless they escalate to dehumanization (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Mere minimal group categorization alone triggers discrimination against outgroups #corroborates (0.98) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 430
• Mere identification with an arbitrary category triggers discrimination without any conflict #corroborates (0.97)
• Mere categorization into a group triggers differentiation and discrimination #corroborates (0.96)
• Mere identification with a category can produce ingroup bias without any conflict #corroborates (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2003
• High group identification alone need not produce ingroup bias or discrimination #complicates (0.82) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 862
• High ingroup identification drives positive, not negative, discrimination #complicates (0.78)