Group isolation produces collective misperception and redirected violence against outsiders

Evidence

Another consequence of group cohesiveness is the tendency to encourage the pursuit of violence. As isolation deepens, most communication comes from within the group, and information about the outside world is filtered through the group. Growing misperceptions reinforce group beliefs and values. It becomes easier to depersonalize victims and to see the enemy as unmitigatingly hostile. The need to deflect internal conflict that might disturb a vital harmony may lead to extreme aggressiveness toward outside enemies. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4148 (#expands, via linked claim)

[W]hat is at stake here is not an attempt to explain individual violence that finds its roots in personal passions, desires, hate, greed. On the contrary, it is significant that the mechanisms of the two kinds of violent action (individual and group) are different and manifest themselves differently in the same individuals, who may have a radically different propensity to have recourse to group versus individual violence. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 382 (#complicates, via linked claim)

If these threats are experienced chronically, it is possible that out-group negativity may be more common than in-group positivity among white supremacist organizations. Under conditions of chronic perceived threat, in-group positivity might also become coupled with out-group negativity, with increases in one associated with increases in the other. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 987 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Implosive violence of assembled masses differs fundamentally from explosive violence — Jean Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulation, 230; Sacralized violence against outsiders provokes reciprocal vengeful cycles that degrade culture — David Theo Goldberg, The Threat of Race: Reflections on…, 1834; Segregation sustains conflict by institutionalizing mutual ignorance and suspicion — Miles Hewstone and Ed Cairns and Alberto Voci and Juergen Hamberger and Ulrike Niens, Intergroup Contact, Forgiveness, and…, 104 (+26 more)

Broader Connections

• Group isolation drives violence by filtering outside information and depersonalizing victims #expands (0.92) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4148
• Individual and collective violence operate through separate psychological mechanisms #complicates (0.76) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 382
• Chronic perceived threat can reverse normal in-group bias dynamics in hate groups #complicates (0.75) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 987
• Structured group interests, not personalities, drive intergroup hostility #complicates (0.74) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 651
• Multiple balanced group memberships reduce intergroup hostility potential #complicates (0.70) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 571