The effects of crossed categorization on intergroup evaluations: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Crossed categorization typically refers to the crossing of two dichotomous social dimensions, resulting in four groups (double in‐group, two mixed groups, and double out‐group). This paper reports the results of a meta‐analysis of the effects of crossed categorization on intergroup evaluations. The present effort was able to contrast and evaluate 11 models previously proposed to account for the effects of crossed categorization. The category differentiation (reduction) model received the most support insofar as ( a ) it rendered predictions of intergroup evaluations that were significant and of moderate magnitude, and ( b ) these predictions varied as a significant function of the proposed underlying mechanism for the model (the similarity between the categorization dimensions). We discuss the implications of these results for future research on crossed categorization.