Investigation of the processes underlying intergroup conflict: Function and impact of psychological essentialism

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26780349
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Bunkyo University
• Principal Investigator: Asai Nobuko 京都文教大学, 総合社会学部, 准教授 (30552492)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 心理的本質主義 / 集団間関係 / 成員認知 / 集団間差異の錯覚 / 非協力行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The bases for social categories should be regarded as arbitrary in a logical sense. However, people often believe that members of a certain category share certain inherent essences. The present study conducted experiments and a survey to investigate the impact of such “essentialist” beliefs on group perception and interpersonal behaviors. The results revealed that, even in the minimal group situation in which participants had no information about individual in- and out-group members, essentialist beliefs about groups induced perceived intergroup differences in traits. Although no impact of essentialist beliefs on intergroup and intragroup cooperative behaviors was demonstrated in the present experiment, illusory intergroup differences induced by essentialist beliefs would sufficiently trigger intergroup prejudice and conflicts.

Free Research Field

社会的認知