Shared Identity Is Key to Effective Communication
Date
2015
Authors
Greenaway, Katharine H
Wright, Ruth
Willingham, Joanne
Reynolds, Katherine J
Haslam, Shelly Alexander
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Sage Publications Inc
Abstract
The ability to communicate with others is one of the most important human social functions, yet communication is not always investigated from a social perspective. This research examined the role that shared social identity plays in communication effectiveness using a minimal group paradigm. In two experiments, participants constructed a model using instructions that were said to be created by an ingroup or an outgroup member. Participants made models of objectively better quality when working from communications ostensibly created by an ingroup member (Experiments 1 and 2). However, this effect was attenuated when participants were made aware of a shared superordinate identity that included both the ingroup and the outgroup (Experiment 2). These findings point to the importance of shared social identity for effective communication and provide novel insights into the social psychology of communication.
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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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Journal article
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Restricted until
2037-12-31
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