The password is praise: Content of feedback affects categorization of feedback sources
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The password is praise : Content of feedback affects categorization of feedback sources. / Rabinovich, Anna; Morton, Thomas A.; Landon, Emily; Neill, Caitlin; Mason-Brown, Sapphire; Burdett, Lucie.
In: British Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 53, No. 3, 01.01.2014, p. 484-500.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The password is praise
T2 - Content of feedback affects categorization of feedback sources
AU - Rabinovich, Anna
AU - Morton, Thomas A.
AU - Landon, Emily
AU - Neill, Caitlin
AU - Mason-Brown, Sapphire
AU - Burdett, Lucie
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - In three experimental studies, we investigated the effect of the content of group-directed feedback on categorization of the feedback source as an ingroup or an outgroup member. In all studies, feedback valence (criticism vs. praise) and the attributional content of feedback (attributing outcomes to internal properties of the group vs. external circumstances) were experimentally manipulated. The results demonstrated that anonymous (Study 1) and ambiguous (Studies 2 and 3) sources of feedback are more likely to be seen as (typical) ingroup members when they provide praise rather than criticism. In addition, in all studies there was a significant interaction between valence and the attributional content of feedback, such that sources of praise were more likely to be seen as ingroup members when they attributed the group's success to internal (rather than external) causes, while the opposite was observed for critics. These effects were mediated by perceived group image threat. Implications for research on group-based feedback and social categorization are discussed.
AB - In three experimental studies, we investigated the effect of the content of group-directed feedback on categorization of the feedback source as an ingroup or an outgroup member. In all studies, feedback valence (criticism vs. praise) and the attributional content of feedback (attributing outcomes to internal properties of the group vs. external circumstances) were experimentally manipulated. The results demonstrated that anonymous (Study 1) and ambiguous (Studies 2 and 3) sources of feedback are more likely to be seen as (typical) ingroup members when they provide praise rather than criticism. In addition, in all studies there was a significant interaction between valence and the attributional content of feedback, such that sources of praise were more likely to be seen as ingroup members when they attributed the group's success to internal (rather than external) causes, while the opposite was observed for critics. These effects were mediated by perceived group image threat. Implications for research on group-based feedback and social categorization are discussed.
KW - Group-based feedback
KW - Social categorization
KW - Threat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925364218&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/bjso.12041
DO - 10.1111/bjso.12041
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23906385
AN - SCOPUS:84925364218
VL - 53
SP - 484
EP - 500
JO - British Journal of Social Psychology
JF - British Journal of Social Psychology
SN - 0144-6665
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 214451055