Minimal group discrimination is not merely an experimenter-expectancy artifact

Evidence

The categorized subjects did discriminate significantly, but the observers failed to predict it and in fact expected significantly more fairness than was actually displayed. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2708 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The first question to ask is why should the subjects be expecting the experimenters to expect of them this kind of behavior? The Gerard and Hoyt answer to this is that the experimental situation was rigged to cause this kind of expectation in the subjects. This answer retains its plausibility only if we assume that what was no more than a hint from the experimenters about the notion of “groups” being relevant to the subjects’ behavior had been sufficient to determine, powerfully and consistently, a particular form of in-tergroup behavior. In turn, if we assume this—and the assumption is by no means unreasonable—we must also assume that this particular form of intergroup behavior is one which is capable of being induced by the experimenters much more easily than other forms (such as cooperation between the groups in extorting the maximum total amount of money from the experimenters, or a fair division of the spoils between the groups, or simply random responding). — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2710 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Demand characteristics cannot explain minimal group discrimination because observers failed to predict it — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2708; Experimenter-demand explanations must assume discrimination is induced far more easily than other behaviors — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2710; Mere identification with a category can produce ingroup bias without any conflict — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2003 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Demand characteristics cannot explain minimal group discrimination because observers failed to predict it #corroborates (0.95) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2708
• Experimenter-demand explanations must assume discrimination is induced far more easily than other behaviors #corroborates (0.92) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2710