The Influence Of Meta-stereotype On Migrant Children’s Group Favoritism

Migrant children’s group favoritism(attitude towards their own groups and urban children’s groups)is not only an important indicator to measure their integration into the new life in the cities,but also an important factor affecting children’s inter-group interaction and healthy development.Therefore,it has become the focus of researchers to explore the factors and mechanism of migrant children’s group favoritism.Meta-stereotype,as a common perception in the daily life of migrant children,is mostly negative,which is an important factor affecting group favoritism.However,previous studies lacked empirical research on the relationship between meta-stereotype and group favoritism.Therefore,to provide theoretical basis for migrant children to better integrate into urban life,this study will systematically explore the influence of meta-stereotype on group favoritism of migrant children,and the mediating role of state self-esteem as well as the moderating effect of group permeability.The current research consists of two parts: Study 1 investigates the influence of metastereotype on group favoritism(both implicit and explicit)and the mediating effect of state selfesteem by manipulating migrant children’s meta-stereotype;In the study2,considering the changeability of migrant children’s identity,the experimental variable of group permeability is included to further investigate whether group permeability would moderate the relationship between meta-stereotype,group favoritism and state self-esteem,and whether the mediating effect of state self-esteem would be moderated by group permeability.The main conclusions of the two studies are as follows:(1)Meta-stereotype affects individual’s state self-esteem and group favoritism.Meta-stereotype individuals show lower state self-esteem and lower implicit ingroup favoritism but higher explicit ingroup favoritism.(2)Group permeability moderates the effects of meta-stereotype on state self-esteem.Under the high permeability condition,meta-stereotype individuals show higher state self-esteem,while under the low permeability condition,meta-stereotype individuals show lower state self-esteem.(3)Group permeability moderates the relationship between meta-stereotype and group favoritism.Under the high permeability condition,meta-stereotype individuals show lower explicit ingroup favoritism,while under the low permeability condition,meta-stereotype individuals show higher explicit ingroup favoritism.No matter under the high or low permeability condition,meta-stereotype has no effect on the implicit ingroup favoritism.(4)Moderated mediating effect analysis indicates that meta-stereotype indirectly affects the group favoritism of migrant children through the mediating effect of state self-esteem,and this indirect effect is moderated by group permeability.Specifically,meta-stereotype affects group favoritism through state self-esteem at the low permeability condition,while the indirect effect is not significant at the high permeability condition.The above conclusions are of great theoretical significance for a comprehensive understanding of the internal formation mechanism of migrant children’s group favoritism.On the practical level,it is helpful to solve the social integration problem brought about by the "clique" of migrant children in real life.