The more, the merrier? Numerical strength versus subgroup distinctiveness in minority groups

Citation

Livingstone AG, Spears R, Manstead ASR & Bruder M (2011) The more, the merrier? Numerical strength versus subgroup distinctiveness in minority groups. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47 (4), pp. 786-793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.012

Abstract
Evidence attests to the efforts made by minority groups to defend and promote 'distinctive' attributes that potentially define the ingroup. However, these attributes are often only available to a prototypical minority within the minority category. In two studies we tested the hypothesis that, under certain conditions, large projected increases in the numerical strength of a 'distinctive' attribute (emotional intelligence in Study 1; ingroup language in Study 2) within a minority category can paradoxically evoke less-than-positive reactions from those who already have the attribute. Findings confirmed that while a large projected increase in the numerical strength of a 'distinctive' attribute was viewed positively when the comparative context focused on the inter-category relation with a majority outgroup, this increase was viewed less positively, and as undermining their own identity, in a narrower intra-category context. Implications for identity management strategies in minority groups are discussed.

Keywords
Distinctiveness; Minority groups

Journal
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology: Volume 47, Issue 4