Re-examination of the cognitive and motivational effects of cross-categorization

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We re-examined the cognitive and motivational effects of cross-categorization. Specifically, we created a new experimental paradigm and investigated the effects of self-relevance of categorization and cognitive operation of cross-cutting categories on the evaluations for cross-categories. We conducted 3 experiments and found the following facts. First, cross-categorization amplified the intergroup bias. This amplification effect occurred when a self-relevant categorization was cross-cut by another non-self-relevant categorization as well as when it was cross-cut by another self-relevant categorization. Secondly, cognitive operation of cross-cutting categories decreased the evaluations for the cross-cut categories. Thirdly, cognitive operation of re-categorize the cross-cut categories increased the evaluation for the reassembled simple categories. Finally, when the categorizations included the participants' own ethnic group, the reversed effects of the cognitive operations of cross-categorization and re-categorization were obtained.