Linguistic Intergroup Bias (LIB)

The Linguistic Category Model

The assumptions of the LIB are based on Semin and Fiedler's linguistic category model (LCM), which postulates an abstraction continuum with four different levels. For example, you can describe the same situation in the following ways: (1) the basketball player hits his opponent during the game, (2) the basketball player hurts his opponent during the game, (3) the basketball player hates his opponent, and (4) the basketball player is aggressive.

All four statements are accurate descriptions of the observed situation, yet they differ in abstraction. At the concrete end of the abstraction continuum are descriptive action verbs (e.g., hit), which provide an objective description of a single observable behavior. Descriptive action verbs are typically defined by at least one invariant physical feature of the action (e.g., one person hits another) and refer to a specific object (e.g., the opponent) and situation (e.g., the game).

Interpretative action verbs (e.g., hurt) represent the second abstraction level. They likewise refer to an observable behavior, but, in contrast to descriptive action verbs, they describe a more general class [Page 539]of behaviors. For instance, there are many different ways to hurt somebody, such as by hitting or by kicking the person, or by attacking him or her verbally. As a consequence, interpretative action verbs generally go beyond mere description, allowing different interpretations of a given situation.

State verbs (e.g., hate) represent the next abstraction level. They describe a lasting emotional or mental state, are interpretative and evaluative, and are independent of the specific action and context, but they maintain a reference to a specific object. In the example above, the basketball player hates his opponent outside the specific game and can express his feelings in many different ways.

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