The conflict-cooperation effect persists under intragroup payoff asymmetry
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The conflict-cooperation effect persists under intragroup payoff asymmetry. / Theelen, Maik M. P.; Böhm, Robert.
In: Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, Vol. 24, No. 5, 08.2021, p. 815-835.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The conflict-cooperation effect persists under intragroup payoff asymmetry
AU - Theelen, Maik M. P.
AU - Böhm, Robert
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - In real-world intergroup conflict, not all in-group members are equally threatened by the out-group. Yet, the impact of intragroup payoff asymmetry on the inclination to mutually cooperate during intergroup conflict and therefore to protect against out-group attacks, i.e., the “conflict-cooperation effect,” has not been investigated so far. In Study 1, we replicate previous research by using a novel experimental game paradigm, showing increased intragroup cooperation in the presence (vs. absence) of out-group threat under intragroup payoff symmetry. In Study 2, we find a conflict-cooperation effect among group members who are threatened (victims) as well as among group members who are not threatened (helpers) by the out-group. Intragroup cohesiveness, i.e., perceived closeness among in-group members, mediates the conflict-cooperation effect, particularly among selfishly-oriented individuals. Our results support the notion that intergroup conflict may have favored the evolutionary adaption of intragroup cooperation even when the in-group members were asymmetrically threatened by intergroup conflict.
AB - In real-world intergroup conflict, not all in-group members are equally threatened by the out-group. Yet, the impact of intragroup payoff asymmetry on the inclination to mutually cooperate during intergroup conflict and therefore to protect against out-group attacks, i.e., the “conflict-cooperation effect,” has not been investigated so far. In Study 1, we replicate previous research by using a novel experimental game paradigm, showing increased intragroup cooperation in the presence (vs. absence) of out-group threat under intragroup payoff symmetry. In Study 2, we find a conflict-cooperation effect among group members who are threatened (victims) as well as among group members who are not threatened (helpers) by the out-group. Intragroup cohesiveness, i.e., perceived closeness among in-group members, mediates the conflict-cooperation effect, particularly among selfishly-oriented individuals. Our results support the notion that intergroup conflict may have favored the evolutionary adaption of intragroup cooperation even when the in-group members were asymmetrically threatened by intergroup conflict.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - asymmetry
KW - cooperation
KW - intergroup conflict
KW - social dilemma
KW - social value orientation
U2 - 10.1177/1368430220910795
DO - 10.1177/1368430220910795
M3 - Journal article
VL - 24
SP - 815
EP - 835
JO - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
JF - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
SN - 1368-4302
IS - 5
ER -
ID: 241308486