SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF INTERGROUP RELATIONS
Carmen Gómez Berrocal (2006)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
In Social Sciences, the choice of a subject of study often responds to a social need. The scientific interest is proportional to the
importance of this issue for the development, well-being, or improvement of the quality of life of the individual.
The analysis of intergroup relations by Social Psychology has been a central issue since the mid-twentieth century. The fundamental
reason for this interest lies in the relevance of this type of relationship in our daily lives. We all know how our physical
characteristics (being male or female, the colour of our skin), our educational and training level, the profession we are engaged in
or the speech or dialect with which we communicate influence the assessment and the type of interactions we carry out with
other people or groups.
Even today, in modern societies and even more so in other cultures, sex (an indicator of social belonging) can guide the analysis,
valuation and way we behave towards another person. For example, societal expectations about "appropriate behavior" differ for
both sexes. In more traditional societies, men are expected to be independent and oriented towards utilitarian achievements,
while women are expected to be altruistic and interested in others.
In addition, in the national or international news of the daily press it is common to find headlines such as: "The Israeli army lifts
the curfew in five Palestinian cities" or "The new education reform law confronts the Catholic Church and the government". These
examples show how relationships between groups permeate our daily lives in a significant way.
From a scientific approach, the study of this topic requires a definition of it. In this sense, an initial question is to delimit how Social
Psychology understands intergroup relations. As Turner and Giles (1981) pointed out, one way to narrow down this area of study
is to specify the topics or problems it addresses.
Thus, the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations has studied the effects of social contact between groups, the determinants and
causes of social conflict between ethnic, religious, and political groups, and strategies to reduce conflict between groups and social
categories. The common denominator of these topics gives us an idea of what we mean when we talk about intergroup relations
in Social Psychology (Turner & Giles, 1981, p.3):
- The division of human society into different social groups and their interrelations, i.e., the actions of the members of one social
group towards the members of other social groups.
- The collective actions of a large number of people.
- The conflicts, tensions and social antipathies associated with group belongings.
- The strategies used to avoid, reduce, and/or solve such conflicts.
The psychosocial study of intergroup relations focuses on behavior between groups, defined as sets of individuals who interact
regularly and share goals. Social Psychology seeks to understand how people think, feel and act in situations that highlight their
belonging to groups.
In studies on relations between races, ethnicities, or sexes, we use the concept of social category to refer to the feeling of shared
belonging. More than relationships between groups, we speak of intergroup behavior, which involves collective actions, but does
not always require the interaction of many. An encounter between two people can be intergroup if a categorization "we" "you"
stands out.
For example, in an educational context, the interaction between a Spanish child and another of a different nationality is intergroup
if both are aware of their respective cultures. In a school with children of different nationalities, recess meetings are not always
intergroup; sometimes they are peer-to-peer interactions.
Turner, Giles, Huici and Gómez Berrocal emphasize that intergroup behavior reflects human sociability, which can range from
altruism to dehumanization. Psychosocial theories of intergroup behavior are interested in understanding extreme behaviors with
negative consequences for social interaction, such as prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion. This approach has led to
associating the Social Psychology of relations between groups almost exclusively with the study of intergroup conflict.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, This chapter reviews the contributions of Social Psychology to the understanding of relationships between groups, highlighting
theories that analyze societal and psychological processes. It examines the psychosocial factors that facilitate conflict, such as
prejudice and discrimination, and addresses the issue of prejudice and racism, describing types of racism and the role of intergroup
processes in these conflicts.
2. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
The objective of this section is to review the distinctive characteristics of the study carried out by Social Psychology on intergroup
relations. We face an initial hurdle when reviewing the literature on this topic: there is no single theory in Social Psychology about
intergroup relations. To clarify this question, we review the aspects that have favored theoretical diversity in our discipline.
To classify the different theories, we use a classical criterion that involves two dimensions. The first allows us to differentiate the
theoretical explanations according to the approach or level of analysis they adopt: individual approach vs. intergroup approach.
The second dimension differentiates theories according to the nature (cognitive or motivational) of the fundamental process for
understanding the relationships between distinct groups.
2.1. LEVEL OF ANALYSIS AND TOPICS STUDIED IN THEORIES OF INTERGROUP BEHAVIOR
The study of intergroup behavior is ideal for psychosocial analysis because it requires understanding the interaction between
societal processes (political, economic, cultural) and psychological processes (cognitive, motivational, affective). For example, in
order to understand the relations between Roma and non-Roma in Spain, it is essential to consider both psychological factors and
cultural, power, and numerical differences between groups.
Although intergroup behavior is inherently psychosocial, theories have often focused on individual or social processes.
Contemporary Social Psychology emphasizes both individual processes and the social context, understanding that both interact
and influence each other. However, in the past, one or another type of process was prioritized to explain intergroup relations and
the resulting conflict.
2.1.1. Theories with an individual approach
This type of theory explains the conflict between groups as a result of the psychic structure of individuals (psychoanalytic approach)
or their cognitive schemas. During the 1940s and 1950s, the rise of Nazi ideology and the discovery of concentration camps
profoundly influenced psychosocial research on intergroup conflict. Social Psychology, through the psychoanalytic paradigm,
sought to understand and prevent similar barbarities.
A classic example of this period is "The Authoritarian Personality" by Adorno and his team (1950), which proposed that an
individual's social attitudes reflect deep tendencies of his personality formed in childhood, especially within the family. Adorno's
methodology included assessing attitudes toward Jews, ethnocentrism, and authoritarianism in a sample of two hundred non-
Jewish white individuals. They found that prejudiced thinking and rigid views about the discipline were correlated.
In a second phase, they interviewed 150 people with extreme scores in the previous phases, using projective techniques. The
results allowed Adorno to describe components of the authoritarian personality, such as cognitive rigidity and the repression of
negative feelings, which favored prejudiced and authoritarian attitudes. According to Adorno, authoritarian individuals shifted their
feelings of guilt to external groups, making them scapegoats.
Adorno's theory holds that the authoritarian personality is the cause of intergroup prejudice, characterized by authoritarianism
and a rigid cognitive style. Although the methodology has been criticized, the central hypothesis has been confirmed: more
ethnocentric individuals are more likely to express negative attitudes toward outgroups and positive attitudes toward their own
group.
2.1.2. Theories with a group approach
These theories highlight the effects of group and intergroup processes, such as power relations between groups, competition for
resources, status differences, and the norms that regulate these relationships.
2
Made by MatyBuda
Carmen Gómez Berrocal (2006)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
In Social Sciences, the choice of a subject of study often responds to a social need. The scientific interest is proportional to the
importance of this issue for the development, well-being, or improvement of the quality of life of the individual.
The analysis of intergroup relations by Social Psychology has been a central issue since the mid-twentieth century. The fundamental
reason for this interest lies in the relevance of this type of relationship in our daily lives. We all know how our physical
characteristics (being male or female, the colour of our skin), our educational and training level, the profession we are engaged in
or the speech or dialect with which we communicate influence the assessment and the type of interactions we carry out with
other people or groups.
Even today, in modern societies and even more so in other cultures, sex (an indicator of social belonging) can guide the analysis,
valuation and way we behave towards another person. For example, societal expectations about "appropriate behavior" differ for
both sexes. In more traditional societies, men are expected to be independent and oriented towards utilitarian achievements,
while women are expected to be altruistic and interested in others.
In addition, in the national or international news of the daily press it is common to find headlines such as: "The Israeli army lifts
the curfew in five Palestinian cities" or "The new education reform law confronts the Catholic Church and the government". These
examples show how relationships between groups permeate our daily lives in a significant way.
From a scientific approach, the study of this topic requires a definition of it. In this sense, an initial question is to delimit how Social
Psychology understands intergroup relations. As Turner and Giles (1981) pointed out, one way to narrow down this area of study
is to specify the topics or problems it addresses.
Thus, the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations has studied the effects of social contact between groups, the determinants and
causes of social conflict between ethnic, religious, and political groups, and strategies to reduce conflict between groups and social
categories. The common denominator of these topics gives us an idea of what we mean when we talk about intergroup relations
in Social Psychology (Turner & Giles, 1981, p.3):
- The division of human society into different social groups and their interrelations, i.e., the actions of the members of one social
group towards the members of other social groups.
- The collective actions of a large number of people.
- The conflicts, tensions and social antipathies associated with group belongings.
- The strategies used to avoid, reduce, and/or solve such conflicts.
The psychosocial study of intergroup relations focuses on behavior between groups, defined as sets of individuals who interact
regularly and share goals. Social Psychology seeks to understand how people think, feel and act in situations that highlight their
belonging to groups.
In studies on relations between races, ethnicities, or sexes, we use the concept of social category to refer to the feeling of shared
belonging. More than relationships between groups, we speak of intergroup behavior, which involves collective actions, but does
not always require the interaction of many. An encounter between two people can be intergroup if a categorization "we" "you"
stands out.
For example, in an educational context, the interaction between a Spanish child and another of a different nationality is intergroup
if both are aware of their respective cultures. In a school with children of different nationalities, recess meetings are not always
intergroup; sometimes they are peer-to-peer interactions.
Turner, Giles, Huici and Gómez Berrocal emphasize that intergroup behavior reflects human sociability, which can range from
altruism to dehumanization. Psychosocial theories of intergroup behavior are interested in understanding extreme behaviors with
negative consequences for social interaction, such as prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion. This approach has led to
associating the Social Psychology of relations between groups almost exclusively with the study of intergroup conflict.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, This chapter reviews the contributions of Social Psychology to the understanding of relationships between groups, highlighting
theories that analyze societal and psychological processes. It examines the psychosocial factors that facilitate conflict, such as
prejudice and discrimination, and addresses the issue of prejudice and racism, describing types of racism and the role of intergroup
processes in these conflicts.
2. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
The objective of this section is to review the distinctive characteristics of the study carried out by Social Psychology on intergroup
relations. We face an initial hurdle when reviewing the literature on this topic: there is no single theory in Social Psychology about
intergroup relations. To clarify this question, we review the aspects that have favored theoretical diversity in our discipline.
To classify the different theories, we use a classical criterion that involves two dimensions. The first allows us to differentiate the
theoretical explanations according to the approach or level of analysis they adopt: individual approach vs. intergroup approach.
The second dimension differentiates theories according to the nature (cognitive or motivational) of the fundamental process for
understanding the relationships between distinct groups.
2.1. LEVEL OF ANALYSIS AND TOPICS STUDIED IN THEORIES OF INTERGROUP BEHAVIOR
The study of intergroup behavior is ideal for psychosocial analysis because it requires understanding the interaction between
societal processes (political, economic, cultural) and psychological processes (cognitive, motivational, affective). For example, in
order to understand the relations between Roma and non-Roma in Spain, it is essential to consider both psychological factors and
cultural, power, and numerical differences between groups.
Although intergroup behavior is inherently psychosocial, theories have often focused on individual or social processes.
Contemporary Social Psychology emphasizes both individual processes and the social context, understanding that both interact
and influence each other. However, in the past, one or another type of process was prioritized to explain intergroup relations and
the resulting conflict.
2.1.1. Theories with an individual approach
This type of theory explains the conflict between groups as a result of the psychic structure of individuals (psychoanalytic approach)
or their cognitive schemas. During the 1940s and 1950s, the rise of Nazi ideology and the discovery of concentration camps
profoundly influenced psychosocial research on intergroup conflict. Social Psychology, through the psychoanalytic paradigm,
sought to understand and prevent similar barbarities.
A classic example of this period is "The Authoritarian Personality" by Adorno and his team (1950), which proposed that an
individual's social attitudes reflect deep tendencies of his personality formed in childhood, especially within the family. Adorno's
methodology included assessing attitudes toward Jews, ethnocentrism, and authoritarianism in a sample of two hundred non-
Jewish white individuals. They found that prejudiced thinking and rigid views about the discipline were correlated.
In a second phase, they interviewed 150 people with extreme scores in the previous phases, using projective techniques. The
results allowed Adorno to describe components of the authoritarian personality, such as cognitive rigidity and the repression of
negative feelings, which favored prejudiced and authoritarian attitudes. According to Adorno, authoritarian individuals shifted their
feelings of guilt to external groups, making them scapegoats.
Adorno's theory holds that the authoritarian personality is the cause of intergroup prejudice, characterized by authoritarianism
and a rigid cognitive style. Although the methodology has been criticized, the central hypothesis has been confirmed: more
ethnocentric individuals are more likely to express negative attitudes toward outgroups and positive attitudes toward their own
group.
2.1.2. Theories with a group approach
These theories highlight the effects of group and intergroup processes, such as power relations between groups, competition for
resources, status differences, and the norms that regulate these relationships.
2
Made by MatyBuda
