Are they really out to get us?

Examining Interpersonal Perceptions in an Intergroup

Context

Social Perceptions

Self-perception:Does Mr. Smoker think he

is smart?

Other perception:Is Mr. Smoker smart?

Metaperception: Does Dr. Nonsmoker think

that I am smart?

Usually predicted by self perception

Background Social Perceptions

What forms them? Are they accurate?

Intergroup perceptions Social identity differences

Why are intergroup perceptions special? In-group & out-group bias Social stigma Sources in perceptions

Who cares?

Mr. Smoker’s Metaperception

Dr. Nonsmoker’s Perception

?

Why SRM? Multiple sources in perceptions

Social context

Perceptions not independent Sources function at dyad and group level

Multiple Information Levels

Target

A B C D

Perceiver

A X X X

B X X X

C X X X

D X X X

Multiple Sources

Perceiver

Target

Relationship

Error

Social Category, Interpersonal Perception, & Interpersonal

Accuracy

Santuzzi (2007)

Smoking Stigma Stigma = negative evaluation

Identified by behavior

Relatively concealable

No history … yet

Research QuestionsDo smokers think nonsmokers see them

differently?

Do nonsmokers actually see smokers differently?

Are smokers accurate?

Social Category & SRM Smokers & Nonsmokers

4-person groups (g = 24) 3 group compositions Zero-acquaintance

Self-perception 9 evaluative adjectives 5-point response scale

10-minute interactions Evaluation & metaperception Round-robin

Social Interaction Structure

ADCBA

DCB

In-group Perceptions Out-group Perceptions

Data Structure

Target

A B C D

Perceiver

A Y Y Y

B X Y Y

C X X Y

D X X X

Target

A B C D

Perceiver

A - Y Y

B - Y Y

C X X -

D X X -

Asymmetric BlockRound-Robin

What I expected to see Perceiver and relationship variance

Evaluative ratings Zero-acquaintance

In-group v. out-group differences Biased perceptions & metaperceptions

Stigma is different

Smoking Attitudes

-0.44

-1.46

-2.9

-2.4

-1.9

-1.4

-0.9

-0.4

0.1

0.6

1.1

1.6Sm

okin

g A

ttit

ude

Smokers Nonsmokers

Variance Partitioning: In-group Perceptions

Nonsmokers Smokers

Perceiver Target Relationship Perceiver Target Relationship

Evaluation .18*(.16)

.02(.04)

.06*(.06)

.13*(.07)

.07(.10)

.06*(.05)

Metaperception

.17*(.10)

.00(.02)

.02(.03)

.16*(.14)

.01(.04)

.04*(.02)

Variance Partitioning: Out-group Perceptions

Mixed

Nonsmokers Smokers

Perceiver Target Relationship Perceiver Target Relationship

Evaluation .30*(.28)

.08(.25)

.11*(.19)

.16*(.49)

.03(.23)

.10*(.16)

Metaperception .28*(.18)

.05(.09)

.04(.09)

.06(.34)

.03(.17)

.04(.09)

Meta-Accuracy: Sans SRM

Smokers Nonsmokers

Smokers .95* .28

Nonsmokers .87* .86*

TARGET EVALUATION

PE

RC

EIV

ER

M

ETA

PE

RC

ETIO

N

Meta-Accuracy Correlations

egbaY

egbaY

SxNNSMetaSmo

NxSSNEvalNonsmo

ker_

ker_

Do Smokers know how Nonsmokers actually view them?

a = perceiver effect

b = target effect

g = relationship effect

e = error

Meta-Accuracy Correlations: Generalized Accuracy

Smokers Nonsmokers

Smokers .18 -.83

Nonsmokers 1.00 .44

TARGET EVALUATION

PE

RC

EIV

ER

M

ETA

PE

RC

EPTIO

N

Conclusions Source patterns

Individual & relationship sources in evaluation Differences in metaperception (smokers)

Bias or Accuracy? Smokers less accurate ONLY in mixed groups

Why different pattern? Identity differences motivate? Concern directed toward me? Did self-perception do it?

Design Considerations Population base rate

Fewer (self-identified) smokers

Order of interactions

Shared v. unshared contexts

Inferences from mixed contexts Compare to homogeneous situations

Thanks!Janet Ruscher

Ron LandisEd O’Neal

David KennyNyla Branscombe

Reviewer 1Reviewer 2& the APA