Who says we are bad people? The impact of criticism source and attributional content on responses to group-based criticism

TY - JOUR

T1 - Who says we are bad people? The impact of criticism source and attributional content on responses to group-based criticism

AU - Rabinovich, Anna

AU - Morton, Thomas A.

PY - 2010/4/1

Y1 - 2010/4/1

N2 - We investigated the interplay between the source of criticism and the attributional content of their message on behavioral responses to group-based criticism. Studies 1 and 2 revealed that outgroup critics were more effective when their criticism included internal attributions (to the ingroup's character) rather than external attributions (the ingroup's circumstances), whereas there was no effect of attributional content for ingroup critics (a significant Source × Content interaction). Study 3 explored the role of audiences in responses to outgroup criticism. The results indicated that the positive effects of internal versus external attributions were only evident when an outgroup audience was witness to participants' responses. Furthermore, these effects were mediated through concerns about the ingroup's image. Together, these patterns suggest that responses to criticism depend not just on the identity of the critic but also on what the critic says and who is watching. People may be surprisingly responsive to outgroup criticism-particularly when inaction might lead others to perceive them as "bad people."

AB - We investigated the interplay between the source of criticism and the attributional content of their message on behavioral responses to group-based criticism. Studies 1 and 2 revealed that outgroup critics were more effective when their criticism included internal attributions (to the ingroup's character) rather than external attributions (the ingroup's circumstances), whereas there was no effect of attributional content for ingroup critics (a significant Source × Content interaction). Study 3 explored the role of audiences in responses to outgroup criticism. The results indicated that the positive effects of internal versus external attributions were only evident when an outgroup audience was witness to participants' responses. Furthermore, these effects were mediated through concerns about the ingroup's image. Together, these patterns suggest that responses to criticism depend not just on the identity of the critic but also on what the critic says and who is watching. People may be surprisingly responsive to outgroup criticism-particularly when inaction might lead others to perceive them as "bad people."

KW - Attributions for failure

KW - Environmental behavior

KW - Group image concern

KW - Group-based criticism

KW - Intergroup sensitivity effect

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950315906&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0146167210362980

DO - 10.1177/0146167210362980

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20363906

AN - SCOPUS:77950315906

SN - 0146-1672

VL - 36

SP - 524

EP - 536

JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

IS - 4

ER -