ABSTRACT

We review a 40-year corpus of research that we collectively name “Multiple Categorisation Theory” (MCT). From early illustrations using the minimal group paradigm, through a focus on how people cognitively represent social diversity, to recent models of outgroup “re-humanisation”, this work has revealed much about how we think about inclusivity, exclusion, and intergroup differences. We review research that assessed ways to reduce intergroup bias by attenuating the reliance on simple categorisation via “crossed categorisation”. We describe how this research evolved from a focus on intergroup differences to incorporate self-categorisation, through processes of decategorisation and increased social identity complexity. Finally, we consider contemporary models that reveal the generalised benefits of multiple categorisation in promoting outgroup “re-humanisation” through “cognitive liberalisation”. We conclude by highlighting the theoretical and practical implications of this research programme.

摘要

我们回顾了一个40年的研究语料库，我们将其统称为“多重分类理论”（MCT）。从早期使用最小群体范式的插图到关注人们如何在认知上代表社会多样性，再到最近的群体“重新人性化”模型，这项工作已经揭示了许多我们对包容性，排斥性和群体间差异的看法。我们回顾了评估通过减少“通过交叉分类”对简单分类的依赖来减少组间偏倚的方法的研究。我们描述了这项研究如何从关注群体间差异发展为通过分类过程和增加的社会身份复杂性纳入自我分类的过程。最后，我们考虑了当代模型，这些模型揭示了多种分类在通过“认知自由化”促进群体“重新人性化”方面的普遍利益。最后，我们重点介绍了该研究计划的理论和实践意义。