A quasi-experiment on the effects of superordinate categorisation on liking of people from other nations

A number of studies have shown that categorisation at a superordinate level can effectively reduce bias. This experiment examined the effects of superordinate categorisation on liking and stereotyping amongst 102 Kenyans. Participants were presented with pictures of purportedly Kenyan, Nigerian and American targets. The results were that participants with nationalistic categorisation bias exhibited reduced liking of Nigerian/American targets, and that superordinate categorisation reduced such bias. However, nationalistic categorisation bias did not have a significant effect on negative stereotyping. Post hoc findings suggested that participants made trait inferences about targets as individuals and that this influenced negative stereotyping scores. It also appears that intergroup competition (e.g., for positive distinctiveness) may determine liking of outgroup members.