Conformity-Based Out-Group Aggression: Does an In-Group Audience Intensify Out-Group Aggression as a Result of Conformity?

Abstract

Research has repeatedly shown that people tend to conform to local norms. In intergroup conflicts, where most group members engage in some type of aggressive behavior towards out-group members (out-group aggression), individuals are predicted to conform to other in-group members engaging in out-group aggression. In this study, we defined out-group aggression that was a result of conformity to in-group members as “conformity-based out-group aggression” and examined its emergence and the possibility that being observed by in-group members (in-group audience) strengthens such out-group aggression in an experimental setting. We conducted an online experiment with 108 Japanese undergraduates. The results showed that when their in-group members engaged in out-group aggression, participants perceived a stronger pro-aggression norm and exhibited more intense out-group aggression. This effect was slightly more pronounced among those with a greater disposition to avoid rejection. However, the effect of the in-group audience was non-significant. Our findings highlight the difficulty of intergroup conflict resolution.