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Inter-group contact and out-group altruism after violence

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  • Whitt, Sam
  • Wilson, Rick K.
  • Mironova, Vera

Abstract

Altruism among humans is common. It is especially prominent among in-group members. However, we are struck by results from laboratory-in-the-field experiments with out-group members of different ethnic or religious backgrounds. In all instances, the groups were rivals in civil wars. While we find almost no altruistic behavior among groups that were engaged in fighting, out-group altruism emerges with the passage of time. To address the underlying mechanism that might explain this puzzling result, we use a laboratory experiment that sorts between a norms revision explanation and a contact hypothesis explanation. Our findings show that contact with out-group members, in a mutually beneficial task, results in a reversion to prior levels of out-group altruism following conflict. Our findings reinforce the idea that deeply held attitudes toward a stigmatized out-group change following productive interactions with those out-group members. It is clear that hostility between groups need not persist over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Whitt, Sam & Wilson, Rick K. & Mironova, Vera, 2021. "Inter-group contact and out-group altruism after violence," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:86:y:2021:i:c:s0167487021000532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2021.102420
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    Cited by:

    1. Gwen-Jiro Clochard, 2022. "Contact Interventions: A Meta-Analysis," Working Papers 2022-14, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    2. Bonowski, Tim & Minnameier, Gerhard, 2022. "Morality and trust in impersonal relationships," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Lee, Victoria K. & Kranton, Rachel E. & Conzo, Pierluigi & Huettel, Scott A., 2021. "The hidden cost of humanization: Individuating information reduces prosocial behavior toward in-group members," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Ferguson, Neil T.N. & Leroch, Martin Alois, 2023. "On the behavioral impacts of violence: Evidence from incentivized games in Kenya," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Xu, Cheng, 2021. "Effects of urbanization on trust: Evidence from an experiment in the field," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    6. Mironova, Vera & Whitt, Sam, 2021. "Conflict and parochialism among combatants and civilians: Evidence from Ukraine," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    7. Tuki, Daniel, 2023. "Violent conflict and hostility towards ethno-religious outgroups in Nigeria (Version 2)," SocArXiv 7mfek, Center for Open Science.
    8. Lenz, Lisa & Mittlaender, Sergio, 2022. "The effect of intergroup contact on discrimination," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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