Perceived variability as a function of group status and identification

In Study 1, 131 college students (aged 18-58 yrs) received false feedback (FF) that their group (GRP) was more or less intelligent than a comparable out-GRP to manipulate relative in-GRP status. Ss were divided into high identifiers (HIs) and low identifiers (LIs) on the basis of an in-GRP identification measure. Ratings of intra-GRP similarities and of inter-GRP differences were obtained. Low status Ss who identified weakly with their GRP rated within-GRP similarity as significantly less than HIs. In Study 2, status and GRP identification were manipulated. 101 students (aged 18-35 yrs) were categorized as belonging to 1 of 2 GRPs and received FF indicating that their GRP had performed better or worse than the other GRP on a series of decision problems. GRP identification was manipulated by means of FF. Under low GRP status, Ss in the LI condition perceived greater intra-GRP variation than did Ss in the HI condition."