Attenuation of the Köhler Effect in Racially Dissimilar Partnered Exercise Reversed Using Team Identity Strategy

in Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

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Tayo Moss Michigan State University

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Stephen Samendinger SUNY-Farmingdale

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Norbert L. Kerr Michigan State University

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Joseph Cesario Michigan State University

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Alan L. Smith Michigan State University

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Deborah J. Johnson Michigan State University

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Deborah L. Feltz Michigan State University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2020-0085
Keywords:
dyads; exercise motivation; racial stereotypes; social identity; team strategies
First Published Online:
10 Feb 2021
In Print:
Volume 43: Issue 2
Page Range:
105–114
Restricted access

The authors describe two research experiments exploring the influence of race on the Köhler motivation gain effect with exercise tasks. Experiment 1 tested whether partner racial dissimilarity affects individual performance. Experiment 2 created a team identity recategorization intervention to potentially counter the influence on performance observed in Experiment 1. White male participants were partnered with either a Black or Asian partner (Experiment 1) or with a Black partner utilizing team names and shirt colors as a team identity recategorization strategy (Experiment 2). Racially dissimilar dyads completed two sets of abdominal plank exercises with a Köhler conjunctive task paradigm (stronger partner; team performance outcome dependent upon the weaker-ability participant’s performance). The results of Experiment 1 suggest attenuation of the previously successful group motivation gain effect in the racially dissimilar condition. The simple recategorization strategy utilized in Experiment 2 appeared to reverse motivation losses under conjunctive-task conditions in racially dissimilar exercise dyads.

Moss, Kerr, Cesario, Smith, Johnson and Feltz are with Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. Samendinger is with SUNY-Farmingdale, East Farmingdale, NY, USA.

Moss (mosstayo@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
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