Perception of Simple and Crossed Group Identities: Gender and Age

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to replicate Arkonac (1995)'s study about cross-categorization based on gender and age. In accordance with this aim, the data regarding simple and cross categorization situations was gathered using a questionnaire based on Zavalloni (1971)'s focused introspection technique. The sample consisted of 111 participants who belong to different group memberships in terms of gender (male-female) and age (young-adult). The analyses revealed that in-group and out-group evaluations significantly differed in both gender and age dimensions in terms of simple categorization. Then, the participants' simple categorization evaluations were used as baseline values to analyze in-group, out-group evaluations in four cross categorization conditions (gender-age in-group, gender in-group/age out-group, gender out-group/age in-group and gender out-group/age out-group). The results showed that there were no significant differences in in-group-out-group identifications according to gender and age. However, it was found that the group identification means of the participants differed significantly both when gender and age evaluations were taken as baseline values in all other cross categorization situations. Finally, it was found that while male and female participants' group identification values did not differ significantly, the young and adult participants' group identification means differed significantly. The results were discussed with regard to Arkonac's(1995) findings and relevant literature.