Raising the Bar: Differential Expectations for Ingroup performance
Amy C. Lewis

Abstract
There is substantial evidence that individuals give preferential treatment to members of their own groups. By inflating evaluations of ingroup members, the group (and thus the self) may be viewed positively. The current paper examines whether pro-ingroup bias will extend to performance expectations. In Study 1, participants predicted ingroup and outgroup negotiation performance. Ingroup expectations were significantly and substantially inflated. In Study 2, participants set higher performance standards and indicated that an ingroup member would have to earn more points than an outgroup member in order to have performed “very well.” This demonstration of inflated performance expectations and standards is discussed in terms of how these expectations may be difficult or impossible to live up to, ironically setting the stage for harsher evaluation of ingroup members if they are held to the unrealistically inflated standards.

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