Newson, Martha ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-9562, White, Fiona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3040-7130 and Whitehouse, Harvey ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6935-6724 (2022) Does loving a group mean hating its rivals? Exploring the relationship between ingroup cohesion and outgroup hostility among soccer fans. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21 (4). pp. 706-724. ISSN 1612-197X (Print), 1557-251X (Online) (doi:10.1080/1612197x.2022.2084140)

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Abstract

Why does group loyalty sometimes take the form of cooperation or peaceful competition with rival groups and, at other times, violent outgroup hostility? We approached this question using online surveys and an experimental manipulation with British soccer fans. Identity fusion (a visceral sense of “oneness” with the group) is known to motivate strong forms of pro-group action, both peaceful and violent. We identified three crucial factors that influence fused supporters’ intergroup behaviours: age, gender, and exposure to out-group threat. Intergroup behaviours included ingroup altruism (e.g., giving one’s time, or emotional/financial support), barrier-crossing altruism (altruistic acts toward rival fan groups), and outgroup hostility (e.g., insulting, spitting at, or physically attacking). Overall, fused fans were more hostile towards outgroups than were weakly fused fans, but they prioritised ingroup altruism over outgroup hostility, and were most likely to report high levels of barrier-crossing altruism. Older fused fans desired future outgroup hostility only under high threat conditions. A clearer understanding of the factors that modulate these different behaviours is a crucial first step in devising more effective ways of reducing intergroup hostility and, crucially, of channelling extreme forms of group alignment into peaceful forms of prosocial action.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	identity fusion; outgroup; intergroup relations; intergroup hostility; group alignment; ingroup altruism
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2023 15:24
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/38804

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