This research introduces and examines the relatively novel concept of category indispensability. It is examined whether the perception of subgroup indispensability for the identity of a superordinate category is associated with majority members’ acceptance of minority rights. We investigated the role of perceived national category indispensability of immigrants for native’s acceptances of immigrants’ expressive cultural rights. The general hypothesis tested is that higher perceived category indispensability of immigrant groups is associated with higher acceptance. Results from four studies provide support for this hypothesis among native Dutch participants living in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the relationship was found to be mediated by a sense of common dual belonging and by deprovincialization beliefs. © 2014 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

categorization deprovincialization indispensability common identity

cultural anthropology perception Cultural Diversity social distance Social Identification human middle aged Aged human rights Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly adult Social Perception social behavior