This research examined how recipients reacted to group-directed praise formulated by ingroup or outgroup members and varying in linguistic abstraction. Study 1 (N = 81) showed that ingroup praise was perceived as more sincere when formulated in abstract (vs. concrete) terms, whereas outgroup praise formulated in abstract terms was seen as less sincere than concrete praise. In Study 2 (N = 89), recipients of outgroup praise formulated in abstract versus concrete terms attributed more hidden agenda and prejudice to the speaker, and perceived lower congruency between the speaker’s words and beliefs; the opposite pattern occurred for ingroup praise. Perceptions of congruency and hidden agenda mediated the effects of speaker group membership and linguistic abstraction on recipients’ perception of the praising message. This research points out that linguistic abstraction influences the appraisal of group-directed praise as it works as a cue of speakers’ motives. It also suggests important implications for developing successful communications between groups.

这项研究研究了接受者对小组内成员或小组外成员所制定的小组指导称赞的反应以及语言抽象的变化。研究1（N  = 81）表明，以抽象（相对于具体）的术语表述时，内向表扬被认为是更真诚的，而以抽象术语来表述的外向表扬则被认为不如具体表扬。在研究2（N  = 89），以抽象而非具体术语表述的外部赞美的接受者将说话人的议程和偏见更多地归于说话者，并且说话者的言语和信念之间的一致性较低；团体内赞美则出现了相反的模式。一致性和隐藏议程的感知介导了说话者组成员身份和语言抽象对接收者对赞美信息的感知的影响。这项研究指出，语言抽象作为对说话者动机的提示，会影响对群体导向赞美的评价。它还暗示了在团体之间发展成功的交流的重要意义。