Mere categorization into a group triggers differentiation and 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)

In a laboratory setting, experiments with the so-called minimal intergroup situation provided a powerful demonstration that merely classifying individuals into arbitrary distinct social categories was sufficient to produce in-group– out-group discrimination and bias, even in the absence of any interactions with fellow group members or any history of competition or conflict between the groups. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2481 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim
• 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; Anticipatory loss of group standing drives outgroup discrimination — Brenda Major and Alison Blodorn and Gregory Major Blascovich, The threat of increasing diversity: Why…, 14; Categorizing at a broader level diffuses responsibility and lowers collective guilt — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 2117 (+17 more)

Broader Connections

• Mere minimal group categorization alone triggers discrimination against outgroups #corroborates (0.97) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 430
• Mere identification with an arbitrary category triggers discrimination without any conflict #corroborates (0.95)
• Mere arbitrary classification into categories produces in-group bias #corroborates (0.93) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2481
• High ingroup identification drives positive, not negative, discrimination #complicates (0.72)