Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
Youths' displaced aggression against in- and out-group peers: an experimental examination
Albert Reijntjes1, Sander Thomaes, Jan H Kamphuis
1Department of Psychosocial Development in Context, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.h.a.reijntjes@uu.nl
Abstract:
People often displace their anger and aggression against innocent targets, sometimes called scapegoats. Tragic historic events suggest that members of ethnic minority out-groups may be especially likely to be innocent targets. The current experiment examined displaced aggression of Dutch youths against Dutch in-group peers versus Moroccan out-group peers. Participants (N=137, Mage=11.6 years) completed a personal profile that was allegedly evaluated by Dutch peer judges. After randomly receiving negative or neutral feedback from these peers, participants were given the opportunity to aggress against other innocent Dutch and Moroccan peers by taking money earned away from them. Results showed that in response to negative feedback, participants displaced aggression disproportionally against innocent Moroccan out-group targets. This effect was not driven by ethnic prejudice; in both conditions, participants holding more negative attitudes of Moroccans engaged in higher levels of aggression regardless of the ethnicity of the target.
Related Concept Videos
In- and Out-Groups
Bullying
Robbers Cave
Aggression
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

