Behavioral consequences of intergroup sensitivity

Abstract

Communication of criticism between groups is important to productive societal discourse, but may serve to inflame conflict. The defensive rejection of intergroup, relative to intragroup, criticism (intergroup sensitivity effect [ISE]) may contribute to such divides. The ISE has been observed in self-report measures, but such measures are weak and biased predictors of actual (divisive) behavior. We review recent research demonstrating that the ISE does have costly behavioral consequences. We next consider the debate concerning whether the ISE reflects defense of a valued social identity or enforcement of a conversational norm. We therefore review recent evidence for an ISE among individuals lacking identification with the target of the criticism. Third, we examine how the ISE may affect a variety of behaviors relevant to societal divisions, including political reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and vaccination. Lastly, we outline future research that can clarify the underlying mechanisms of the ISE and promote conciliatory intergroup behavior.

What Motivates the Vaccination Rift Effect? Psycho-Linguistic Features of Responses to Calls to Get Vaccinated Differ by Source and Recipient Vaccination Status

“…Accordingly, one may argue that our current analyses tap into more subtle processes that are more ubiquitous. In line with this view, rejection of criticism has even been observed among bystanders who are not members of the criticized groups [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 47 , 48 ]. This indicates that choosing message sources for calls to get vaccinated carefully may even benefit those already vaccinated.…”

Beneficial effects of communicating intentions when delivering moral criticism: Cognitive and neural responses

“…This makes it difficult to change people’s perception of outgroup criticism; it is rejected regardless of the quality of the criticism (Esposo et al, 2013 ). Outgroup critics may even be confronted with hostile responses when they criticize other groups (Thürmer et al, 2019 ; Thürmer & McCrea, 2018 , 2023 ).…”

Intergroup sensitivity in a divided society: Calls for unity and reconciliatory behavior during the 2020 U.S. presidential election

“…Group members reject outgroup criticism because they view it as less constructive than the same criticism from the ingroup (Hornsey & Imani, 2004). What is more, recent research indicates that group members actively punish critical outgroup commenters, even investing their own time and money to do so (Thürmer & McCrea, 2018; Thürmer et al, 2019, review by Thürmer & McCrea, 2023). Two recent large-scale registered reports attest to the robustness of the behavioral rejection of outgroup criticism (McCrea et al, 2022; Thürmer & McCrea, 2021).…”