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Egoism and Altruism in Intergroup Conflict

Author

Listed:
  • Simon Varaine
  • Raul Magni-Berton
  • Ismaël Benslimane
  • Paolo Crosetto

Abstract

Studies have shown that intergroup conflict may result from two distinct human motives: the desire to obtain personal retributions from conflict ( egoism ), and the desire to sacrifice for the benefit of the ingroup ( parochial altruism ). Yet, the relative strength of these motives is open to debate. In this study, we compare behaviors in two Intergroup Prisoner’s Dilemmas (IPD), which respectively capture altruistic and egoistic motives to generate conflict. Egoistic motives result in about 40% more conflict than altruistic motives. Yet, parochial altruism generates more conflict when three conditions are gathered: i) other ingroup members are parochial altruists, ii) the outgroup is aggressive and iii) the outgroup is rich. Implications regarding the diverging structural causes of terrorism and civil wars are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Varaine & Raul Magni-Berton & Ismaël Benslimane & Paolo Crosetto, 2024. "Egoism and Altruism in Intergroup Conflict," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 68(2-3), pages 348-380, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:68:y:2024:i:2-3:p:348-380
    DOI: 10.1177/00220027231164928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ángel Gómez & Lucía López-Rodríguez & Hammad Sheikh & Jeremy Ginges & Lydia Wilson & Hoshang Waziri & Alexandra Vázquez & Richard Davis & Scott Atran, 2017. "The devoted actor’s will to fight and the spiritual dimension of human conflict," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(9), pages 673-679, September.
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    1. Simon Varaine & Raul Magni-Berton & Ismaël Benslimane & Paolo Crosetto, 2022. "Egoism and altruism in intergroup conflict," Working Papers 2022-04, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).

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