Cross-Cultural Studies of Person Perception

Abstract

Two approaches to the study of intergroup/interpersonal relations, in/outgroup categorization (motivational) and schema-confirmation (cognitive), are introduced. These two concepts are integrated into a two-dimensional taxonomy, so that a stimulus person can appear as a schema-consistent or -inconsistent member of an in- or outgroup. It is hypothesized that the phenomena of ingroup favoritism/outgroup discrimination should be limited to schema-consistent actors. As the model includes a nonfamiliar outgroup level of analysis, it allows questions to be addressed pertaining to universality versus cultural specificity of person-perception phenomena. Two studies were conducted with Nigerian (Hausa and Ibo) and Canadian undergraduates participating as observers of videotaped Hausa and Ibo actors, cast in their ethnic schema-consistent (typical) roles and in schema-inconsistent (atypical) roles. Results from the Nigerian study gave modest support for the proposed model. As predicted, schema-consistent ingroup actors were liked more, but that effect did not generalize to the domain of perception variables. There, the ingroup individuals were generally rated higher on Personally Close and the outgroups scored higher on Competent/Motivated, an impersonal dimension. Other comparisons between the two studies demonstrated a positivity effect in perception of Nigerian actors by Canadian observers and differences in perceptual predictors for liking and achievement outcome.