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High outgroup entitativity can inhibit intergroup retribution.
Anna-Kaisa Newheiser1, John F Dovidio2
1Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA.
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|July 29, 2014
Summary
People may avoid hostility towards high-entitative outgroups if they can retaliate. Research shows aggression decreases when the outgroup is perceived as capable of retaliation, especially when highly entitative.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Intergroup Relations
Background:
- Intergroup conflict research seeks to understand the psychological drivers of conflict escalation.
- Perceived outgroup entitativity, the degree to which a group is seen as a coherent entity, is explored as a factor in intergroup hostility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether perceived outgroup entitativity influences intergroup hostility.
- To test the hypothesis that people may inhibit hostility towards high-entitative outgroups capable of retaliation.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted, manipulating intergroup provocation and outgroup entitativity.
- Study 1 examined aggression following provocation, varying outgroup entitativity and perceived retaliation capability.
- Study 2 manipulated outgroup entitativity and retaliation possibility while holding provocation constant.
Main Results:
- Higher negative mood predicted aggression against low-entitative outgroups but not high-entitative ones capable of retaliation.
- Aggression towards high-entitative provoker outgroups occurred only when retaliation was not possible.
Conclusions:
- Perceived outgroup entitativity and the potential for retaliation significantly moderate intergroup hostility.
- Findings suggest that the perceived capability of an outgroup to retaliate can inhibit aggressive responses in intergroup conflict situations.
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