Social categorization and group-motivated interindividual-intergroup discontinuity

Robert Böhm, Klaus Rothermund, Oliver Kirchkamp

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Research on the interindividual–intergroup discontinuity effect has demonstrated that intergroup relations are often less cooperative than interindividual relations. The aim of the present paper is to test whether mere social categorization suffices to create a group‐motivated discontinuity effect. In two experiments, we manipulated actors' personal versus social identity salience, whereas controlling for actors' outcome independence (1 : 1) versus interdependence (3 : 3). Making actors' social identity salient using a minimal group treatment was sufficient to increase defection in a Prisoner's Dilemma Game, irrespective of whether this was in an interindividual or intergroup interaction (Experiment 1). Using a Mutual Fate Control matrix in Experiment 2, results indicate that this effect can be attributed to actors' increased motivation to maximize relative differences to outgroup opponents under social identity salience.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)40-49
JournalEuropean Journal of Social Psychology
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 501021 Social psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Social categorization and group-motivated interindividual-intergroup discontinuity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this