Help Less or Help More —Perceived Intergroup Threat and Out-Group Helping

Abstract

The present research investigated the relationship between intergroup threat and prosocial actions toward out-group members. We proposed that intergroup threat not only results in direct negative intergroup attitudes and behavior, but also promotes an indirect reduction in out-group helping. Study 1 (N = 54) was conducted in a realistic setting, whereas Study 2 (N = 92) employed an experimental context. Willingness to help (help intent) and monetary donation (help behavior) was compared between the threatening out-group and the non-threatening out-group. The results showed that when intergroup threat was experienced, more help was offered to the non-threatening out-group than the threatening out-group. The findings suggest that perceived intergroup threat attenuates prosocial behavior toward out-group members.