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Development of the positive-negative asymmetry effect: ingroup exclusion norm as a mediator of children's evaluations on negative attributes

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 18:57 authored by Adam Rutland, Rupert Brown, Lindsey Cameron, Anni Ahmavaara, Katie Arnold, Jenni Samson
Two studies were conducted that go beyond previous research by examining when and why children might show intergroup bias in the attribution of positive, but not negative traits (PNAE: the positive-negative asymmetry effect, Mummendey & Otten, 1998, European review of social psychology, Vol. 9). In Study 1 (n=107) children completed a `mixed trait attribution task in a dichotomous group context. As predicted there was a developmental trend between 7 and 12 years of age in the PNAE. The 7-year olds were the only age group not to show the effect. Study 1 also found a quadratic developmental trend in childrens national intergroup bias. Study 2 (n=62) replicated the developmental path of the PNAE found in Study 1 using a wider age range of 6-16 years. This study used a `mixed' list of traits which were not only antonyms and a procedure that made the positive and negative trait dimensions explicitly independent. Significantly, Study 2 found in-group exclusion norm partially mediated the development of the PNAE. These findings support an account of the positive-negative asymmetry effect based upon normative processes.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

European Journal of Social Psychology

Issue

1

Volume

37

Page range

171-190

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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