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Humans reciprocate intentional harm by discriminating against group peers

Author

Listed:
  • David Hugh-Jones

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Itay Ron
  • Ro'i Zultan

    (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)

Abstract

Cycles of intergroup revenge appear in large scale conflicts. We experimentally test the hypothesis that humans practice group-based reciprocity: if someone harms or helps them, they harm or help other members of that person's group. Subjects played a trust game, then allocated money between other people. Senders whose partners returned more in the trust game gave more to that partner's group members. The effect was about half as large as the effect of direct reciprocity. Receivers' allocations to group members were not affected by their partners' play in the trust game, suggesting that group reciprocity was only triggered when the partner’s intentions were unequivocal.

Suggested Citation

  • David Hugh-Jones & Itay Ron & Ro'i Zultan, 2017. "Humans reciprocate intentional harm by discriminating against group peers," University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series 2017-03, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    • Handle: RePEc:uea:ueaeco:2017_03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    upstream reciprocity; group identity; intergroup conflict;
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