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Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Vol. 8, No. 3, 215-230 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1368430205053939

When Do We Communicate Stereotypes? Influence of the Social Context on the Linguistic Expectancy Bias

Daniël H. J. Wigboldus

Radboud University Nijmegen, d.wigboldus{at}psych.ru.nl

Russell Spears

Cardiff University

Gün R. Semin

Free University, Amsterdam

The linguistic expectancy bias (LEB) refers to the tendency to describe expectancy consistent information at a higher level of linguistic abstraction than expectancy inconsistent information. Two experiments examined the influence of the social communicative context on the production of this linguistic bias by manipulating the group membership of the actor in, and the recipient of, stereotypical information. Results supported the prediction that an LEB effect based on stereotypes is especially pronounced in an intergroup social communicative context in which either the actor in or the recipient of the stereotypical information is an outgroup member.

Key Words: communication • intergroup • language • linguistic expectancy bias • recipient effects • social context • stereotypes

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This Article
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