The violent resolution of intergroup conflict has plagued the world for all of known history. The major focus of this proposed research is identifying ways to increase cooperativeness in intergroup interactions. By contrasting the consequences that occur when someone is behaving as part of a group, compared to behaving as an individual, our previous research established a clear discontinuity. That is, using a mixed-motive paradigm and face-to-face interaction, repeated group or group interactions typically produce high rates of competition, while interactions of two people from these groups are typically characterized by high rates of cooperation. Such discontinuity occurs even though competition yields worse results than does mutual cooperation. Existing evidence indicates that such discontinuity is a very robust phenomenon. It is explained partially by the greater tendency of groups than individuals to distrust, or fear, each either and partially by the fact that group members can provide each other with social support for acting in a self- interested, or greedy manner, while individuals have no way of obtaining such social support. The proposed research has four foci. The first two involve attempts to reduce the magnitude of the discontinuity effect by: (1) providing evidence for the importance of a concern for future consequences and (2) increasing the salience of a common, ingroup identity. Third, in order to expand the ecological validity of our research program, we wish to initiate a series of studies investigating the consequences of mixed-motive interactions for disputants possessing unequal amounts of interpersonal power. Fourth, in order to better understand the conditions of applicability, the proposed research will also attempt to further validate the theoretical bases for the discontinuity effect. If the research is successful it will be possible to specify conditions under which discontinuity will occur and some of the methods by which it can be reduced.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH053258-05
Application #
6330271
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-4 (01))
Program Officer
Morf, Carolyn
Project Start
1995-01-01
Project End
2002-11-30
Budget Start
2001-02-01
Budget End
2001-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$111,139
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Wildschut, Tim; Insko, Chester A; Gaertner, Lowell (2002) Intragroup social influence and intergroup competition. J Pers Soc Psychol 82:975-92
Insko, C A; Schopler, J; Gaertner, L et al. (2001) Interindividual-intergroup discontinuity reduction through the anticipation of future interaction. J Pers Soc Psychol 80:95-111
Schopler, J; Insko, C A; Wieselquist, J et al. (2001) When groups are more competitive than individuals: the domain of the discontinuity effect. J Pers Soc Psychol 80:632-44
Gaertner, L; Insko, C A (2000) Intergroup discrimination in the minimal group paradigm: categorization, reciprocation, or fear? J Pers Soc Psychol 79:77-94
Pemberton, M B; Insko, C A; Schopler, J (1996) Memory for and experience of differential competitive behavior of individuals and groups. J Pers Soc Psychol 71:953-66