Identity fusion, outgroup relations, and sacrifice: A cross-cultural test

Cognition Vol/Iss. 186 ScienceDirect Published In Pages: 1-6
By Purzycki, Benjamin Grant, Lang, Martin

Abstract

Researchers tested the popular identity fusion theory, which states that while maintaining one’s own individual identity, a deep affinity with one’s group can contribute to sacrifice for that group, in conjunction with their own hypotheses, using a behavior economic experiment. The experiment looked at whether after rolling a die to determine which cup a coin was placed into, participants actually followed the rules, or favored themselves (by putting the coin into their own cups at a disproportionate rate). The findings state that while on average, the individual participants did indeed favor themselves, those with higher ingroup fusion were more likely to sacrifice coins to other members of their ‘ingroup.' The experiments were conducted in 8 culturally diverse field sites.

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:abbe.mccarter