Individuals Prefer to Harm Their Own Group Rather Than Help an Opposing Group

Previous research finds that group members often prioritize benefiting their in-group over harming out-groups (“in-group love” hypothesis) and typically focus on maximizing positive outcomes for their group. However, real-world decisions often involve choosing between net-negative options, where group members may avoid supporting opponents even at their own group’s expense. In six pre-registered studies, we found that individuals consistently prefer to harm their own group rather than support an opposing group, and this is driven by a desire to protect their group-based identity. This has implications for understanding decision-making in intergroup conflict and developing potential interventions for conflict resolution.

Speaker: Rachel Gershon, UC Berkeley