The Relationship Between Christian Group Identification and Intergroup Discrimination in Contexts Where Social Identity is Made Salient.

Abstract

Three studies conducted as part of this thesis investigated the relationship between Christian group identification and multiple forms of intergroup discrimination (i.e., evaluations, trait ratings, white noise distribution, re-hiring and sacking) against a variety of outgroups (i.e., Atheists, Goths and Homosexuals). One hypothesis was tested in all three studies. This stated that Christian group identification would be positively related to intergroup discrimination in a context where Christian group membership was made salient. In the first study, Christians who were given the opportunity to evaluate ingroup members (i.e., Christians) and outgroup members (i.e., Atheists) evaluated their own group more positively than outgroup members. Such discrimination was positively related to Christian group identity in the salient condition. In the second study, Christians were given the opportunity to rate (positive) ingroup (i.e., Christians) and outgroup members (i.e., Goths), and allocate white noise (negative) to ingroup and outgroup members. Christians rated ingroup members more highly than outgroup members. Such discrimination was positively related to Christian group identity in the salient condition. No intergroup discrimination was shown with regard to white noise allocations. In the third study, Christians who were given the opportunity to re-hire (positive) ingroup members (i.e., Christians) and outgroup members (i.e., Homosexuals) re-hired more ingroup than outgroup members. Such discrimination was not however related to Christian group identity. Christian group members given the opportunity to sack (negative) ingroup members (i.e., Christians) and outgroup members (i.e., Homosexuals) sacked more outgroup than ingroup members. Such discrimination was negatively related to Christian group identity in the salient condition. Across the three studies, Christian group members showed significantly more discrimination in the salient compared to the non-salient condition. The ramifications of these findings are discussed.