Social Identity and Misperceptions as Barriers to Intergroup Cooperation (with Ángela Jiang-Wang)
Abstract
Through two online experimental studies we examine the role identity plays in shaping cooperative outcomes and how misperceptions act as a barrier to intergroup cooperation. Identity impacts two key channels underlying cooperation – attitudes which reflect a willingness to conditionally cooperate with others, and beliefs about others level of cooperation. In Study 1, using a public goods game framework, when identities are salient participants are on average 19% less willing to conditionally cooperate with out-group partners, and expect out-group partners to contribute 3.33 (out of 10) tokens less to the public good than in-group partners. When identities are salient, participants contribute on average 3.16 tokens more to the public good when matched with an in-group partner. This discrimination is significantly associated with misperceptions about the cooperative attitudes of out-group partners and the social appropriateness of intergroup cooperation. In Study 2, we provide corrective information targeting these misperceptions. Average discrimination in cooperation falls by 21% when information is provided about social norms and by 28% when information is provided about cooperative attitudes. Our findings suggest that targeting misperceptions can help reduce identity-based barriers to intergroup cooperation.
Cooperating, with Rules (with Robin Cubitt and Simon Gächter)
Internal consistency of behavioural field experiments on cooperation in developing countries (with Simon Gächter and Devesh Rustagi)