Ingroup and outgroup salience combine to maximize identification only when both are activated.

Evidence

In this study, we manipulated the subliminal presence of ecologically valid ingroup or outgroup symbols. Orthogonal to this, we also manipulated an ingroup or outgroup context by subliminally presenting words associated with one’s own group (e.g., we), another group (e.g., they), or no group (i.e., “X”). Unlike the previous study, this design allowed us to examine the influence of presenting ingroup or outgroup symbols alone. If ingroup (outgroup) salience alone is sufficient to boost identification with the relevant ingroup, then lower levels of social identification should occur in conditions in which there is an absence of ingroup (outgroup) salience relative to all other conditions. Consistent with self-categorization theory, we predicted the highest level of social identification to occur when both ingroup and outgroups were activated, either by the presentation of ingroup symbols in an outgroup context, or the presentation of outgroup symbols in an ingroup context. — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 39

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Either ingroup or outgroup salience alone may suffice to increase social identification. — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 19; Identification with one’s group is strongest when both ingroup and outgroup are made salient — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 23; Outgroup salience boosts conscious ingroup identification when the ingroup is already salient. — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 47 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Identification with one’s group is strongest when both ingroup and outgroup are made salient #corroborates (0.97) — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 23
• Ingroup-outgroup pairing, not either alone, drives identity shifts #corroborates (0.90) — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 50
• Outgroup salience boosts conscious ingroup identification when the ingroup is already salient. #expands (0.88) — Brandon Randolph-Seng, Darcy A. Reich, and Kenneth G. DeMarree, On the Nonconscious Antecedents of…, 47
• Dual identification requires the superordinate group to feel optimally distinct #complicates (0.75) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 705
• Group identification is optimal when differentiation and assimilation needs balance #complicates (0.72) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 433