Common ingroup meta-identification: A meta-perception perspective to dynamically promote intergroup attitudes in status asymmetry contexts

Abstract

Building upon the application of common ingroup identity in intergroup relations and the meta-perception perspective, this study innovatively introduces the concept of Common Ingroup Meta-Identification (CIMI), defined as individuals' perceptions regarding the identification of various subgroups with a common ingroup. Through four experiments, the research systematically examines both the effects of CIMI on intergroup attitudes and the moderating role of group status, using Agent-Based Modeling to simulate the underlying dynamic processes. The results indicated that manipulating CIMI effectively affected intergroup attitudes in both real groups and minimal groups (Study 1 and Study 2). Notably, CIMI from high-status groups exhibited a more pronounced effect, particularly when low-status groups perceived low level CIMI from high-status groups (Study 3A). The ABM simulation results in Study 3B revealed that at the group level, even a small number of individuals with strong shared group identity could trigger widespread improvements in intergroup attitudes, as their positive influence spreads through mutual CIMI. The starting level of this shared identity, especially in higher-status groups, played a pivotal role in determining whether attitudes became sustainably positive or regressed to negativity. These findings suggest that manipulating CIMI serves as an effective strategy for enhancing intergroup relations, providing a flexible approach to fostering mutual understanding among diverse nations, ethnicities, and cultures of different status.