Chapter 4 of 10All chapters
Chapter 4 of 10
Groups
Us and them.
In-group bias
Dividing people arbitrarily is enough to produce favouritism towards their own group. No history, competition or ideology is required.
- Group identity forms quickly and affects perception, not just behaviour.
- Shared superordinate goals reduce inter-group hostility.
Diffusion of responsibility
As group size grows, each individual feels less obligation. It explains unhelped emergencies and unowned tasks equally well, and naming a specific person fixes both.