The Effects of Identity (Subordinate Vs. Superordinate) Salience on Intergroup Attitudes, Anxiety, and Contact Intentions in North Cyprus

Social identity theory suggests that strength of identification with the ingroup will increase negative attitudes toward the outgroup. The common ingroup identity model builds on this assumption by arguing that when a person is categorized as an ingroup rather than an outgroup member, evaluations of that person will become more positive and group-based biases will reduce. The present research (N = 280) tests these assumptions of social identity theory and common ingroup identity model in the context of an ongoing political conflict, that of Cyprus, while using a range of different outcome measures. According to findings, priming superordinate identity reduces intergroup anxiety and increases future contact intentions compared to subgroup priming condition. Further analyses revealed that intergroup anxiety mediated the effects of identity priming on outgroup evaluation and future contact intentions. These findings contribute to theoretical explanations and ongoing debates around the causal relationship between social identity and intergroup relations.