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Inaccurate group meta-perceptions drive negative out-group attributions in competitive contexts

Author

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  • Jeffrey Lees

    (Harvard University)

  • Mina Cikara

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Across seven experiments and one survey (n = 4,282), people consistently overestimated out-group negativity towards the collective behaviour of their in-group. This negativity bias in group meta-perception was present across multiple competitive (but not cooperative) intergroup contexts and appears to be yoked to group psychology more generally; we observed negativity bias for estimation of out-group, anonymized-group and even fellow in-group members’ perceptions. Importantly, in the context of US politics, greater inaccuracy was associated with increased belief that the out-group is motivated by purposeful obstructionism. However, an intervention that informed participants of the inaccuracy of their beliefs reduced negative out-group attributions, and was more effective for those whose group meta-perceptions were more inaccurate. In sum, we highlight a pernicious bias in social judgements of how we believe ‘they’ see ‘our’ behaviour, demonstrate how such inaccurate beliefs can exacerbate intergroup conflict and provide an avenue for reducing the negative effects of inaccuracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Lees & Mina Cikara, 2020. "Inaccurate group meta-perceptions drive negative out-group attributions in competitive contexts," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 279-286, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1038_s41562-019-0766-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0766-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Kai Ruggeri & Bojana Većkalov & Lana Bojanić & Thomas L. Andersen & Sarah Ashcroft-Jones & Nélida Ayacaxli & Paula Barea-Arroyo & Mari Louise Berge & Ludvig D. Bjørndal & Aslı Bursalıoğlu & Vanessa Bü, 2021. "The general fault in our fault lines," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 1369-1380, October.
    2. Eugen Dimant, 2020. "Hate Trumps Love: The Impact of Political Polarization on Social Preferences," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 029, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Mimi E. Lam, 2021. "United by the global COVID-19 pandemic: divided by our values and viral identities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    4. Stone, Daniel & Lees, Jeffrey Martin, 2024. "Is SRC truly polarizing?," OSF Preprints jwmvf, Center for Open Science.
    5. John T. Jost & Daniela Goya-Tocchetto & Aaron C. Kay, 2023. "The Psychology of Left-Right Political Polarization; and an Experimental Intervention for Curbing Partisan Animosity and Support for Antidemocratic Violence," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 708(1), pages 46-63, July.
    6. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
    7. Birnbaum, Hannah J. & Wilson, Desman & Waytz, Adam, 2024. "Advantaged groups misperceive how allyship will be received," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    8. Muñoz, Manuel, 2024. "Identity change and economic mobility: Experimental evidence," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 493-509.
    9. Minson, Julia A. & Bendersky, Corinne & de Dreu, Carsten & Halperin, Eran & Schroeder, Juliana, 2023. "Experimental studies of conflict: Challenges, solutions, and advice to junior scholars," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    10. Justus Enninga & Ryan M. Yonk, 2023. "Achieving Ecological Reflexivity: The Limits of Deliberation and the Alternative of Free-Market-Environmentalism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Mercer, Katie Holstein & Mollborn, Stefanie, 2023. "Distinction through distancing: Norm formation and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    12. Chapkovski, Philipp & Zakharov, Alexei, 2023. "Does voluntary disclosure of polarizing information make polarization deeper? An online experiment on Russo-Ukrainian War," MPRA Paper 116305, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Emile Bruneau & Andrés Casas & Boaz Hameiri & Nour Kteily, 2022. "Exposure to a media intervention helps promote support for peace in Colombia," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(6), pages 847-857, June.

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