Intergroup threat and negative outgroup attitudes relate bidirectionally, not one-way.

Evidence

Although some studies have examined intergroup threat experimentally (Branscombe & Wann, 1994; Cadinu & Reggiori, 2002; Grant, 1992, 1993a), the majority of studies were based on correlational research designs that are problematic for determining the direction of causality. Threat could lead to negative attitudes, but negative attitudes could also precede perceptions of threat. Plausible arguments exist for each causal direction, and it is reasonable to assume the relationship is bidirectional. Some experimental evidence has shown that the introduction of intergroup threat leads to negative attitudes toward outgroups (Branscombe & Wann, 1994; Grant, 1993a), however, to our knowledge no study has examined whether increases in negative attitudes lead to increases in perceived threat. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 136

Categorization

• DEFINE: Spells out the empirical blind spot behind directional claims: no study has tested the reverse path, attitudes-to-threat.
• XREF: connects to: Group-level threats trigger bias even absent direct threat to the self. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 28; Meta-analysis across studies quantifies how distinct intergroup threat types relate to outgroup attitudes. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 72