Additive and Interactive Models of Crossed Categorization in Correlated Social Categories

The effects of crossed categorization on intergroup judgments have been the subject of considerable theoretical and empirical interest. A variety of alternative theoretical models have been proposed and examined in earlier research. The present study differs from those reported previously in that it focused on correlated social categorizations. Moreover it employed a large and broadly representative sample. This permitted us to examine the various theoretical models with considerable power. Results supported a largely additive model, in which out-group categorizations independently contributed to out-group derogation. Additionally, a number of weaker category interactions suggested that in-group membership on one dimension was of greater importance if the target person was an in-group member on other categorizations as well. Finally, somewhat different effects were found for the two dependent variables employed, liking and perceived similarity. Results are more in accordance with social identity theory and the similarity-attraction hypothesis than with Doise's category differentiation model.