Identification as Lesbian and Judgments of Personal Versus Group Discrimination

Regina M. Chopp

Advisor: Jim Maddux

Committee Members: Jonathan Mohr, Karen Rosenblum

The Hub, VIP Room 1
December 08, 2010, 05:00 AM to 07:30 AM

Abstract:

Previous research has demonstrated a basic tendency for people to judge discrimination directed at their group (group discrimination) to be higher than discrimination directed at themselves as members of that group (personal discrimination). This phenomenon is referred to as the personal/group discrimination discrepancy (PGDD). Several studies have found that a number of variables such as contextual cues, frequency or severity of discrimination, ambiguity about the causes of negative feedback, and strong group identification can affect the magnitude of the discrepancy between personal and group-level reports of discrimination. The current study developed and tested an experimental prime that increased group identification as lesbian. The prime was then used to test one hypothesized causal influence of identity strength on perceptions of discrimination. It was found that providing lesbian women with an activity that increases group identification did not influence the gap between personal and group discrimination. However, a relationship between trait group identity and reports of discrimination emerged. As trait group identity increased, the personal/group discrimination discrepancy remained constant when the discriminator was heterosexual men (i.e., reports of group and personal discrimination increased simultaneously). The personal/group discrimination discrepancy increased, however, when the discriminator was heterosexual women (i.e., personal discrimination remained relatively low and group discrimination increased). The results of the current study challenge prevailing interpretations of the moderating role of group identification on perceptions of discrimination.