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Article
In-group favoritism or black sheep effect? The moderating role of norm strength on destination residents’ responses towards deviant behaviors
Tourism Management
  • Lujun Su, Central South University
  • Huixuan Chen, Central South University
  • Yinghua Huang, San Jose State University
  • Xiuqiong Chen, Putian University
Publication Date
10-1-2023
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104773
Abstract

Drawing on social identity theory and focus theory of norms, this study investigated differences in how destination residents respond to deviant behaviors by other residents—members of their in-group—and similar behavior by tourists, who they see as the out-group. We proposed and tested a conceptual model of the transition between in-group favoritism and the black sheep effect under the moderating effect of norm strength. A mixed-method approach, including a secondary data study and three scenario-based experiments, was applied. Findings of this study revealed that focal residents showed in-group favoritism for other residents' deviant behavior compared with tourists. The contagion effect of deviant behavior was stronger among in-groups than out-groups. However, with respect to behaviors about which norms are tight, the black sheep effect comes into play, as focal residents hold a higher desire to punish in-groups’ deviant behavior than the out-group. This study has theoretical and practical implications for destination marketing organizations.

Funding Number
19ZWB17
Funding Sponsor
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Keywords
  • Black sheep effect,
  • Desire to punish,
  • Desire to tolerate,
  • Destination resident,
  • Deviant behavior,
  • In-group favoritism
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Citation Information
Lujun Su, Huixuan Chen, Yinghua Huang and Xiuqiong Chen. "In-group favoritism or black sheep effect? The moderating role of norm strength on destination residents’ responses towards deviant behaviors" Tourism Management Vol. 98 (2023)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/yinghua-huang/77/