Physical similarity cues traits while coordinated action cues shared goals

Evidence

Consistent with this view, Ip, Chiu, and Wan (2006) demonstrated that physical similarity and coordinated action among group members trigger two separate routes to perceived entitativity. They orthogonally manipulated physical similarity and coordinated action among group members. The researchers found that manipulating the physical similarity of group members increased trait inferences about the group, that is, perceivers inferred that the group had stable, underlying traits. When the group members were physically dissimilar but were coordinated in action, perceivers inferred that the group members had common goals. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 229