Positive-Negative Asymmetry in Social Discrimination: Meta-Analytical Evidence

The aim of this paper is to supply quantitative information that is useful for planning studies that investigate social discrimination on differently valued scales with newly created groups. Meta-analyses of the amount of in-group favoritism were conducted with the valence of the scale as moderator (k = 52). Additionally, the experimental effect of valence on the size of in-group bias was analyzed (k = 26). In-group favoritism in the minimal group paradigm is greater when participants are asked to make evaluations on positively valued attributes or to allocate positive resources than when they are asked to make evaluations on negatively valued attributes or to allocate negative resources. Nevertheless, there is also in-group favoritism in the negative domain. The analyses indicate that the difference between positive and negative valence conditions is especially striking when resources are allocated between in-group and out-group or when minority members are making decisions.