Thinking as a Social Group or Thinking as a Social Group Member

It has become axiomatic that group memberships affect our lives as social beings. Our self-concept and interpersonal behaviors are affected by our membership in groups, as are the attitudes that orient us to our social world (see also Kashima; Jost & Kay; Kenrick et al., this volume). Traditionally, research examining attitude formation and change has been conducted from the perspective of the individual who receives information from another individual, but more recent work has emphasized how our identities as group members affect our willingness to receive and be influenced by information.