9408760 Insko ABSTRACT This program of studies addresses the classical issue of understanding the psychological consequences that occur when someone is behaving as part of a group as compared to behaving as an individual. Using a mixed-motive paradigm and face-to-face interaction, the PIs have previously established a reliable discontinuity. That is, repeated interactions of two people are typically characterized by high rates of cooperation, whereas group on group interactions typically produce high rates of competition. Such discontinuity occurs even though competition yields worse results than mutual cooperation. The past research has provided evidence that such discontinuity between interindividual and intergroup behavior is a very robust phenomenon. It is explained partially by the greater tendency of groups than individuals to distrust, or fear, each other and partially by the fact that group members can provide each other with social support for acting in a self-interested, or greedy, manner whereas individuals have no way of obtaining such social support. The present research has three foci which will identify: (1) ways in which discontinuity can be reduced, by increasing the cooperativeness of intergroup interactions, (2) individual cognitive processes that support discontinuity, and (3) situational characteristics relating to the outcome domain that is a necessary condition for the occurrence of discontinuity. The violent resolution of intergroup conflict has plagued the world for all of known history, and continues to this day. Witness, for example, the intergroup conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda. The major focus of the proposed research is to identify ways to decrease the competitiveness that is more characteristic of intergroup relations than of interindividual relations. Past research has demonstrated that such discontinuity between groups and individuals is explained partially by the greater tendency of grou ps than individuals to distrust, or fear, each other and partially by the fact that group members can provide each other with social support for acting in a self-interested manner. The proposed research will attempt to identify ways of reducing this discontinuity. Although a research tradition exists for reducing the consequences of intergroup conflict by "decategorizing" the participants' group affiliations, it is often not feasible or even desirable to do this. Instead, cooperation between intact groups will be induced by interventions that increase trust without increasing vulnerability and that make group's more aware of the long-term consequences of their actions. In order to understand the conditions of applicability, the proposed research will also attempt to identify the reasons for the distrust between members of different groups, and the characteristic of the social setting that is a necessary condition for the occurrence of discontinuity. If the research is successful it will be possible to specify the conditions under which discontinuity will occur and the methods by which it can be reduced.
