Symbolic and material conflicts reinforce each other rather than competing as explanations

Evidence

For example, rather than pitting symbolic and tangible conflict explanations against each other, it is more fruitful to explore how perceived symbolic and resource conflicts work in concert to maintain group boundaries. One possibility is that symbolic threat may give rise to material threat, and vice versa. In the context of social change in which the dominance of one’s value system may be threatened, identity may be protected by targeting outgroups as competitors for more tangible resources. Gaining resources (e.g., social power) may allow groups to ensure that their values have representation and status. Moreover, competition for resources may generate exaggerated perceptions of value differences to justify conflict. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1514 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Whereas Allport primarily identified these different sources of conflict, considerable recent research has attempted to pit symbolic or socialidentity explanations for prejudice against explanations based on tangible conflicts of interest between groups … Thus whereas Allport identified key factors that contribute to competition, current work has gone beyond his initial insights to understand the dynamic relations between different sources of conflict and the more proximate mechanisms that translate conflict into prejudice and discrimination. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1513 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Crystallization and decrystallization shift the symbolic value of objects I perceive — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1382; Theory and practice reinforce each other rather than one preceding the other — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 521; Group conflict arises from both genuine interest clashes and symbolic differences. (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Symbolic threat and material conflict feed each other to sustain group boundaries #corroborates (0.97) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1514
• Recent research treats symbolic and tangible conflict sources as intertwined rather than competing #corroborates (0.96) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1513
• Material incentives harden sacred-value conflicts while symbolic gestures soften them #expands (0.95)
• Ideology and material practice relate through systematic disjuncture, not correspondence #complicates (0.85)
• Reducing sacred values to material ones worsens conflict #complicates (0.80)