"It Will Not Always Be This Way": Cognitive Alternatives Improve Self-Esteem in Contexts of Segregation. (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Airong; Jetten, Jolanda; Iyer, Aarti; Cui, Lijuan
• Is Part Of: Social psychological & personality science. Volume 4:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: cognitive alternatives -- well-being -- intergroup contact -- social identity; Personality -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 155.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1948550612452890
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1948-5506

Abstract

In the context of school segregation in China, the authors propose that disadvantaged group members' self-esteem should improve when they consider the prospect of a better future for the group (i.e., awareness of cognitive alternatives to the lower status position). A pilot study established that country workers' children who were educated with city children (i.e., in integrated schools) reported higher self-esteem than country workers' children who were educated separately (i.e., in segregated schools). Study 1 showed that self-esteem among country workers' children was predicted by awareness of cognitive alternatives, but not by contact with city children. Study 2 experimentally manipulated cognitive alternatives, showing that self-esteem was enhanced when awareness of cognitive alternatives was high rather than low. Contact with city children again did not predict self-esteem. Findings demonstrate the importance of perceiving that social change is possible.