Understanding and reducing defensiveness in the face of group criticism

研究表明，当外界对群体提出批评时，人们的反应要比内部成员的反应更具防御性。该项目将探讨两个关键的研究问题：（1）在什么条件下，内部批评会或多或少被接受？以及（2）面对合理的批评，外群体成员可以做些什么来减少防御性？该项目将有助于就如何在一系列族裔、宗教和政治团体内部和之间谈判敏感问题提供具体、实用的建议。

Research has shown that criticisms of groups are received much more defensively when they are made by outsiders than when they are made by other ingroup members. The proposed project examines two key research questions: (1) under what conditions will ingroup critics be more or less accepted? and (2) what can outgroup members do to reduce defensiveness in the face of legitimate criticisms? This project will help provide specific, practical recommendations regarding how to negotiate sensitive issues within and between a range of ethnic, religious, and political groups.