Group-level threats trigger bias even absent direct threat to the self.
Evidence
Although initial studies of RGCT presented groups with threats that directly impacted the individuals involved, it is proposed that biases between groups may still occur when there is not a direct threat to the self (Bobo, 1983). In this sense, when the interests of a group as a whole are threatened, members perceive this as threatening even though self-interest is not directly impacted. For example, a White male may perceive affirmative action as threatening the overall interests of his ingroup even when he is not personally affected. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 28
Categorization
- XREF: Bobo’s group-position formulation — the mechanism the MOC depends on when it argues perceived competition explains attitudes toward outgroups who were never individually encountered. — connects to: In-group bias arises even without conflict, hostility, or self-interest — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2705; Threat from similar outgroups drives more bias than threat from dissimilar ones. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 59; Threat amplifies attribution biases that exonerate ingroups and damn outgroups — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 358 (+15 more)
- DEFINE: Distinguishes realistic group conflict theory from its extension to collective/symbolic threat, a distinction central to the paper’s taxonomy.
Broader Connections
- In-group bias arises even without conflict, hostility, or self-interest
#corroborates(0.90) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2705 - Perceived outgroup threats damage intergroup relations even without hostility
#corroborates(0.88) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 38 - Threats to a person’s ingroup are experienced as threats to the self itself
#complicates(0.85) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 338 - Mere ingroup membership biases members to deny their group’s causal role in harm
#corroborates(0.83) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 298 - Group-level threats and individual-level threats trigger systematically different responses
#complicates(0.82) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 23 - Group-defense reactions can be triggered without any conscious perception of group threat
#corroborates(0.82) - Limiting interests to personal risk obscures group-based threat as a driver of racial attitudes.
#corroborates(0.80) - Threat produces similar authoritarian effects at individual and group levels
#complicates(0.80) - Threat amplifies attribution biases that exonerate ingroups and damn outgroups
#expands(0.78) — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 358 - Threatened identity and low collective self-esteem fuel out-group scapegoating.
#expands(0.78) — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 912 - Group esteem threat can spill attitudes onto unrelated outgroups
#expands(0.76) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 57 - Implicit out-group bias triggers measurable physiological threat responses
#expands(0.75) — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 277 - Group esteem threat effects may reflect publication bias
#complicates(0.75) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 94 - Group esteem threats may combine multiplicatively with realistic threats.
#expands(0.74) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 140 - Threat from similar outgroups drives more bias than threat from dissimilar ones.
#qualifies(0.72) — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup Attitudes, 59