These processes are subject to difficulties and errors particular to intergroup and
intercultural encounters. The increased tendency to make errors when making intergroup
attributions was noted in Chapter 4. Categorisation is another error-prone
process; there is evidence that some people categorise narrowly and both some of
them and some others categorise rigidly. Narrow categorisers group together only
cases which are closely similar on a particular criterion: for instance, a narrow categoriser
might apply the label ‘manager’ only to people who are responsible for the
work of others. Broad categorisers, in contrast, allow more cases to fit into the same
category by using an increased number of criteria. Thus, broad categorisers might
count as managers people who manage budgets or brands as well as those who
manage people. Both narrow and broad categorisers might be flexible or rigid categorisers,
willing or unwilling to shift their category ‘definitions’ on receiving new
information. There is, though, a tendency for rigidity and narrowness to go together.
Rigidity and narrowness, especially when combined, create obstacles to intercultural
communication by leading people to over-emphasise differences and ignore similarities
and by reducing their willingness to search for appropriate interpretations of different
others’ behaviour. Finally, (sub)cultural differences in logic style, learning style
and problem-solving, such as those described in Chapter 4, obviously impede mutual
understanding.