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Relative Deprivation, Attitude Contrast Projection, and Opinion Certainty

Ball State University, rfholtz{at}bsu.edu

Tañja H. Nihiser

Ohio State University at Lima

This research examines social projection between relatively deprived groups and its effect on opinion certainty. In Study 1, disadvantaged and advantaged group members indicated their own attitudes on six issues, and then estimated the positions either of their in-group, their respective rival out-group, a control out-group, or they received no opportunity to project. As expected, disadvantaged participants projected attitudinal contrast onto their advantaged rival out-group. Negative thoughts about the rival mediated subsequent increments in opinion certainty. Alternatively, advantaged participants assumed moderate consensus with their disadvantaged rival. They also exhibited ambivalent out-group thoughts and low opinion certainty. Study 2 replicated the effect of disadvantaged status on contrast projection and opinion certainty. Discussion focuses on the different perspectives of relatively deprived groups.

Key Words: ambivalence • attitudes • attitude strength • intergroup relations • relative deprivation • social projection

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