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The Ontogeny of the Motivation That Underlies In-Group Bias

David Buttelmann^1,2; Robert Böhm^2,3

¹ Kleinkindforschung in Thüringen Research Group, University of Erfurt · ² Center for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavioural Sciences, University of Erfurt · ³ School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University

Humans demonstrate a clear bias toward members of their own group over members of other groups in a variety of ways. It has been argued that the motivation underlying this in-group bias in adults may be favoritism toward one’s own group (in-group love), derogation of the out-group (out-group hate), or both. Although some studies have demonstrated in-group bias among children and infants, nothing is known about the underlying motivations of this bias. Using a novel game, we found that in-group love is already present in children of preschool age and can motivate in-group-biased behavior across childhood. In contrast, out-group hate develops only after a child’s sixth birthday and is a sufficient motivation for in-group-biased behavior from school age onward. These results help to better identify the motivation that underlies in-group-biased behavior in children.

DOI

10.1177/0956797613516802

Volume

25 (4)

Pages

921-927

Language

en

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Sources

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