Identity, cognition, and language in intergroup context

Seven social psychological themes or foci are identified in this special issue on intergroup communication: social identity, social beliefs, attitudes, face-to-face interaction in groups, intergroup contact, naturally occurring intergroup contexts, and hidden prejudice. Each article is examined in turn, and then the themes are discussed generally in relation to the field of language and social psychology. The conclusion to be drawn is that there continues to be a close and scientifically profitable relationship between social psychology and the study of language - especially in the area of intergroup communication. In particular, there is promise for stronger links between the study of language and the study of social cognition, perhaps through the study of categorisation-contingent cognitive representation of self and others as group members