Macro-Economic Inequality and National Stereotypes in 45 Non-Western Countries

The assumption that people favor ingroups and disfavor outgroups is based largely on theory and research from Western countries. However, groups subjected to economic exploitation and inequality might come to favor more advantaged outgroups. The present large-scale study (N = 12,339) involving 45 non-Western countries explored ingroup stereotypes and stereotypes of relatively advantaged and disadvantaged outgroups (Western Europeans and Western Africans, respectively) and their relation to macroeconomic conditions. Compared with their national ingroup, participants stereotyped advantaged outgroups as more competent (exhibiting outgroup favoritism) but less warm; they stereotyped disadvantaged outgroups as less competent but neither more nor less warm. Nationals of poorer and more exploited countries exhibited stronger outgroup favoritism on competence and stronger ingroup favoritism on warmth. This work provides preliminary evidence for the structural origins of national stereotypes: macroeconomic inequalities can override habitual ingroup favoritism and lead national groups to exhibit outgroup favoritism.