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Individual-Group Discontinuity: Further Evidence for Mediation by Fear and Greed

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chester A. Insko

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kenneth A. Graetz

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Stephen Drigotas

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Valerie A. Smith

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kenny Dahl

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The authors have previously shown that intergroup interactions are dramatically more competitive than interindividual interactions and have termed this phenomenon a discontinuity effect. They believe that this effect is partly driven by group members' fear of being exploited by the out-group. Experiment 1 found that when subjects were allowed to select a single, safe alternative, a significant, albeit descriptively smaller competitive effect remained. Intergroup competiteness may also be driven by greed. Experiments 2 and 3 tested whether the group content is propitious for providing social support for totally self-interested acts. Trained role-players consistently suggested selecting either the cooperative or the competitive option in a prisoner's dilemma game; and groups received trial-by-trial feedback about the out-group's responding. The pattern of results is consistent with the assumption that, in the presence of a vulnerable opponent, group members tend to provide social support for immediate self-interest.

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