TY - JOUR
T1 - Seeing and Treating the Out-group Like Family: Transference Effects in an Ethnic Context
AU - Wolf, Lukas
AU - Karremans, Johan
AU - Maio, Gregory
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - Transference effects occur when our impressions are guided by our mental representations of significant others. For instance, if a target resembles an individual’s significant other, then that person’s feelings toward their significant other will be transferred onto the target. The present research examines whether transference effects emerge even when the target belongs to an ethnic out-group. In two experiments, participants received descriptions of in-group and out-group targets who partly resembled their own (or another’s) positive significant other. The findings showed that resemblance to one’s own significant other improves attitudes and behavior toward both in-group and ethnic out-group targets, as found across two nations and three different ethnic out-groups. The present research hence provides evidence of robust transference effects across ethnic group boundaries.
AB - Transference effects occur when our impressions are guided by our mental representations of significant others. For instance, if a target resembles an individual’s significant other, then that person’s feelings toward their significant other will be transferred onto the target. The present research examines whether transference effects emerge even when the target belongs to an ethnic out-group. In two experiments, participants received descriptions of in-group and out-group targets who partly resembled their own (or another’s) positive significant other. The findings showed that resemblance to one’s own significant other improves attitudes and behavior toward both in-group and ethnic out-group targets, as found across two nations and three different ethnic out-groups. The present research hence provides evidence of robust transference effects across ethnic group boundaries.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079121659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1368430219897117
DO - 10.1177/1368430219897117
M3 - Article
SN - 1368-4302
VL - 24
SP - 436
EP - 452
JO - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
JF - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
IS - 3
ER -