CRUZ PILLANCARI, Milena; VARGAS VELAZQUEZ, Daniela; VARGAS VIDAL, Ricardo    ESTRADA GOIC, Claudia. Perception of the intergroup conflict and its correlation with adherence to essentialist beliefs. []. , 21, 2, pp.116-122. ISSN 0121-4381.

This research study covers the relation between perception of conflict (in two groups: intragroup and extragroup) and adherence to essentialist beliefs. The hypothesis made Social identity states that perception of a higher conflict level between intragroup and extragroup is associated with an increase in essentialist beliefs. This means that this increase occurs pursuant to the belief that groups exist as a consequence of sharing profound elements amongst members, thus becoming real and natural (not socially created) groups. This hypothesis establishes a new approach to the application of this implicit theory, as it seeks to understand not only its negative consequences, but also its potential ancillary benefits for the groups which operate under such negative consequences. The two variables were measured in two similar studies (N₁=180, N₂=169) which used non-random sampling and a non-experimental cross-correlational design.The variables used were "conflict perception" and "essentialist intragroup extragroup beliefs".The results are in line with our predictions, showing that both variables are related. A discussion is presented on potential causal interpretation of these results and their limitations.

: Essentialism; Social identity; Intergroup dynamics.

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