Work

Positive Mood and the Perception of Variability Within and Between Groups

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: Three experiments investigated the effects of positive mood on perceptions of variability within and between groups. Participants formed impressions of two different and highly variable groups under a neutral or positive mood. When participants expected to learn about both groups, positive mood increased perceived intergroup similarity but did not affect perceived intragroup variability. In contrast, when participants expected to learn about only one group, judgments of intergroup and intragroup similarity were both affected by mood. Mood and the intergroup context influenced the nature and degree of information processing and resultant judgments of variability in social groups.

Source: Group Processes & Intergroup Relations

DOI: 10.1177/1368430205048619

Authors: Steven J. Stroessner, Diane M. Mackie, Venezia Michalsen

Institutions: Columbia University, Barnard College, University of California, Santa Barbara, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Language: English

Topic: Social and Intergroup Psychology

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Science Foundation

Award: Target-Based Determinants of Social Categorization