Attitudes and emotions toward out-groups with a different status: The role of regulatory focus orientations

The role of regulatory focus orientations on attitudes and emotions toward out-groups with a different status was tested on three different Italian samples. Previous research had shown that individuals in promotion focus display in-group favoritism, while individuals in prevention focus exhibit out-group derogation. We hypothesized that when the out-group is lower in status than the in-group, prevention focus should be associated with out-group derogation. On the other hand, when the out-group is higher in status than the in-group, promotion focus should be associated with out-group favoritism. Findings are discussed as a function of a goal compatibility hypothesis between groups involved in the intergroup context and individuals' regulatory focus orientations. © 2011 Cises.