Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat
We experimentally test the social motives behind individual participation in intergroup conflict by manipulating the perceived target of threat—groups or individuals—and the symmetry of conflict. We find that behavior in conflict depends on whether one is harmed by actions perpetrated by the out-gro...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31877/ |
| _version_ | 1848794289229791232 |
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| author | Weisel, Ori Zultan, Ro'i |
| author_facet | Weisel, Ori Zultan, Ro'i |
| author_sort | Weisel, Ori |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | We experimentally test the social motives behind individual participation in intergroup conflict by manipulating the perceived target of threat—groups or individuals—and the symmetry of conflict. We find that behavior in conflict depends on whether one is harmed by actions perpetrated by the out-group, but not on one’s own influence on the outcome of the out-group. The perceived target of threat dramatically alters decisions to participate in conflict. When people perceive their group to be under threat, they are mobilized to do what is good for the group and contribute to the conflict. On the other hand, if people perceive to be personally under threat, they are driven to do what is good for themselves and withhold their contribution. The first phenomenon is attributed to group identity, possibly combined with a concern for social welfare. The second phenomenon is attributed to a novel victim effect. Another social motive—reciprocity—is ruled out by the data. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:13:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-31877 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:13:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-318772020-05-04T17:38:06Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31877/ Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat Weisel, Ori Zultan, Ro'i We experimentally test the social motives behind individual participation in intergroup conflict by manipulating the perceived target of threat—groups or individuals—and the symmetry of conflict. We find that behavior in conflict depends on whether one is harmed by actions perpetrated by the out-group, but not on one’s own influence on the outcome of the out-group. The perceived target of threat dramatically alters decisions to participate in conflict. When people perceive their group to be under threat, they are mobilized to do what is good for the group and contribute to the conflict. On the other hand, if people perceive to be personally under threat, they are driven to do what is good for themselves and withhold their contribution. The first phenomenon is attributed to group identity, possibly combined with a concern for social welfare. The second phenomenon is attributed to a novel victim effect. Another social motive—reciprocity—is ruled out by the data. Elsevier 2016-02-04 Article PeerReviewed Weisel, Ori and Zultan, Ro'i (2016) Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat. European Economic Review . ISSN 0014-2921 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014292116300046 doi:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2016.01.004 doi:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2016.01.004 |
| spellingShingle | Weisel, Ori Zultan, Ro'i Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title | Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title_full | Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title_fullStr | Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title_short | Social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| title_sort | social motives in intergroup conflict: group identity and perceived target of threat |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31877/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31877/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31877/ |