We may assume that in group/out group dynamics would prompt us to be generally kinder to those in our own tribe. Alas, research from Cornell suggests the opposite might actually be the case, and we’re harsher on those from our own group.

The researchers suggest that at the heart of this seemingly dichotomous finding is morality, as morality tends to bind groups together. When that informal code is broken, the punishment is harsher.

“When we’re part of a group, we feel a strong connection to the people in our group, and so we feel they are more likeable or more trustworthy,” the researchers explain. “However, at the same time, when someone from our group does something morally wrong, it can threaten our social ties and reflect poorly on the whole group, so we judge them harshly to protect the group as a whole.”

In group dynamics

The researchers explain that ingroup members may be anything from family and friends to those who share political ideologies with us or the same employer. Any characteristic that defines us can also have the capacity to create an outgroup of those who are different.

While generally speaking we do tend to view those from our in group more favorably, this doesn’t apply when those people transgress. When this happens, we tend to view them far more harshly.

Interestingly, this only applied to moral transgressions. When the transgression was less serious, such as simple tardiness, then such transgressions were judged less favorably when conducted by an outgroup member.

“We hope that our research can help explain real-world puzzles,” the researchers conclude. “In the world of politics, for example, our results provide a different perspective on our current polarized political landscape. Whereas the prevailing thought is that Democrats and Republicans view each other as outgroup members, our research suggests that perhaps the demonization of the other party happens because they view each other as ingroup members (e.g., Americans), hence rendering harsher moral judgments when another ingroup member holds an opposing view. We increasingly see splintering within our groups, and understanding when and why we denigrate and vilify those in our group will be crucial.”