Abstract
The research presented in the following thesis sought to assess the association between ingroup favouritism and belonging. Four studies were conducted. Study 1 revealed that participants reported increased levels of belonging following the display of ingroup favouritism. Study 2 sought to replicate these results, and further examine that idea that threats to belonging could lead to increased levels of ingroup favouritism. Whilst Study 2 provided additional support for the idea that that ingroup favouritism led to increased belonging, no evidence was found for the premise that threats to belonging (manipulated via cyberball ostracism) would lead to increased ingroup favouritism. Studies 3a and 3b were conducted in order to examine the circumstances under which threats to belonging (again manipulated via cyberball ostracism) would lead to increased intergroup discrimination. The findings from Study 3a showed that (a) men who were ostracised and whose evaluations of ingroup and outgroup members were to be made public (i.e., seen by other men) and (b) men who were included and whose evaluations of ingroup and outgroup members were to be kept private, showed increased levels of intergroup discrimination. Contrary to expectations, the findings from Study 3b showed that women, regardless of whether they were included or ostracised and/or whether their responses were to be kept private or made public, showed pronounced levels of ingroup favouritism. In an attempt to further understand how threats to belonging might impact on ingroup favouritism amongst women an additional study was conducted. Study 4 utilised a face-to-face false feedback paradigm whereby women were either fully included, fully excluded or marginalised (i.e., excluded but given a chance to be reincluded). The results revealed that those who were marginalised showed approximately 6 times more ingroup favouritism than did those who were excluded. In overall terms, these findings suggest that ingroup favouritism leads to increased belonging, threats to belonging only lead to increased favouritism in particular circumstances.