Negative stereotypes cause threat rather than being a distinct threat type themselves.

Evidence

In the original version of intergroup threat theory, labeled integrated threat theory (Stephan & Stephan, 2000), four types of threat were included, but this number has since been reduced to two basic types – realistic and symbolic threats (Renfro & Stephan, 2002). Negative stereotypes, which were initially considered to be a separate type of threat, now seem to us to be a cause of threat involving characteristics of the outgroup that could have a negative impact on the ingroup (e.g., aggressiveness, deviousness, immorality). Indeed, negative stereotypes have been found to be a significant predictor of both realistic and symbolic threats (Stephan, Boniecki, Ybarra, Bettencourt, Ervin, Jackson, McNatt, & Renfro, 2002). Intergroup anxiety, which involves the anticipation of negative outcomes from intergroup interaction, was also initially considered to be a separate threat but now seems to us to be a subtype of threat centering on apprehensions about interacting with outgroup members. — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 3

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth checking: the theory’s renaming of stereotypes from threat to ‘cause of threat’ — does this restructure empirical predictions?

Related

• Negative stereotypes both accompany intergroup threats and independently predict outgroup attitudes (similarity 0.87)
• Positive stereotypes may also induce perceived threat (similarity 0.86)
• Four threat types explain 36 percent of variance in outgroup attitudes (similarity 0.86)
• Stereotypes and identification precede threats, whose attitude effects run through emotions. (similarity 0.85)
• Intergroup threat and negative outgroup attitudes relate bidirectionally, not one-way. (similarity 0.84)
• Group threats act through intergroup emotions to reach outgroup attitudes. (similarity 0.84)
• Threat biases memory, stereotype disconfirmation, and perceived outgroup size. (similarity 0.83)
• Group dislike generates stereotypic beliefs, not the reverse (similarity 0.83)
• Group-based identity forces precede realistic and symbolic threat perception (similarity 0.82)
• Group esteem threat research omits stereotype and identification measures (similarity 0.82)
• Symbolic threat targets ingroup values while realistic threat targets power and wellbeing (similarity 0.82)
• Threat amplifies the ultimate attribution error in intergroup perception. (similarity 0.82)
• Threat amplifies preexisting intergroup responses rather than creating them (similarity 0.82)
• Groups seen as competing with the ingroup are stereotyped as low in warmth (similarity 0.82)
• Different outgroup types provoke distinct kinds of threat (similarity 0.82)