Dependence or Separation: The Relationship between Ingroup Favoritism and Outgroup Derogation

Qiao Yalan; Wen Fangfang; Zuo Bin; Ke Wenlin; Song Shijie; Wang Jing

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240223

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (2) : 450-457. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240223

Social, Personality & Organizational Psychology

Dependence or Separation: The Relationship between Ingroup Favoritism and Outgroup Derogation

Qiao Yalan^1,2, Wen Fangfang^1,3, Zuo Bin^4,1, Ke Wenlin¹, Song Shijie¹, Wang Jing¹

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Abstract

Intergroup relation has always been the cornerstone of social psychology research. Some studies have found that the existence of ingroup favoritism depends on outgroup derogation, while the others have found that ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation are separated, and the vagueness of the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation has led to a constant debate among researchers. Based on the psychological needs of group members and the intergroup factors of group interaction, this paper attempts to find the important factors that influence the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation. This paper summarizes the essence, relationship and factors of ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation, which mainly includes the following three aspects.
First of all, the research shows that ingroup favoritism is widespread, and the researchers mainly explain the psychological mechanism of ingroup favoritism according to social identity theory, social projection theory and the theory of bounded generalized reciprocity. These three theories respectively focus on group identity, self and group similarity perception, and the value of group cooperation to explain ingroup favoritism. As for outgroup derogation, the researchers mainly explain its psychological mechanism from the perspective of the realistic group conflict and the integrated threat theory. According to the theory of realistic group conflict, hostility among groups occurs more due to the competition for resources, which leads to prejudice against opposing outgroup. The integrated threat theory focuses on conflicts caused by perceived symbolic threats.
Secondly, this paper expounds the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation from two aspects of dependence and separation. On the one hand, some evidence has shown that ingroup favoritism depends on outgroup derogation, that is, ingroup favoritism can be driven by outgroup derogation. The essence of ingroup favoritism depending on outgroup derogation might improve individual self-esteem and maintain advantage. On the other hand, the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation may be separated. Pure ingroup favoritism (without outgroup derogation) does not involve injustice towards outgroup members, whereas pure outgroup derogation is rarer. Pure outgroup derogation may exist in people who have experienced social isolation or negative experiences both in their ingroup and outgroup, and therefore has difficulty developing ingroup favoritism but holds significant hostility to outgroup.
Finally, from the perspective of the psychological needs of group members and intergroup factors of group interaction, this paper sorts out the important factors that influence the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation. The relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation is influenced by different degrees of group identity. Specifically, when the group identity is slight and no other influencing factors are involved, an individual only shows ingroup favoritism; However, when the group identity is highlighted, the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation increases. Besides, the motivations of outgroup derogation and ingroup favoritism are different. The motivation of ingroup favoritism is to help ingroup members, which is related to the degree of closeness and importance of group members, while the motivation of outgroup derogation may be to harm outgroup members. The main situational conditions to increase the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation are group threat and resource competition.
In conclusion, future research can adopt empirical study to find out the role of influencing factors in the relationship between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation, and it is also suggested to clarify the boundary between ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation by combining social cognitive paradigms and strategy manipulation.

Key words

intergroup relation / ingroup favoritism / outgroup derogation / group identity / group threat

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Qiao Yalan, Wen Fangfang, Zuo Bin, Ke Wenlin, Song Shijie, Wang Jing. Dependence or Separation: The Relationship between Ingroup Favoritism and Outgroup Derogation[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2024, 47(2): 450-457 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240223

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