TY - JOUR
T1 - Ally or adversary
T2 - The effect of identifiability in inter-group conflict situations
AU - Ritov, Ilana
AU - Kogut, Tehila
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - People's tendency to be more generous towards identifiable victims than towards unidentifiable or statistical victims is known as the identifiable victim effect. Recent research (Kogut & Ritov, 2007) called the generality of the effect into question, showing that in cross-national contexts, identifiability affects mostly willingness to help victims belonging to one's 'in-group'. The present research extends the investigation by examining the identifiability effect in inter-group conflict situations. In three experiments, employing hypothetical contributions as well as real monetary allocation in a dictator-game, we found that identifiability increased generosity towards a member of the adversary group, but it decreased generosity towards a member of one's own group. Possible mechanisms underlying this interaction are discussed.
AB - People's tendency to be more generous towards identifiable victims than towards unidentifiable or statistical victims is known as the identifiable victim effect. Recent research (Kogut & Ritov, 2007) called the generality of the effect into question, showing that in cross-national contexts, identifiability affects mostly willingness to help victims belonging to one's 'in-group'. The present research extends the investigation by examining the identifiability effect in inter-group conflict situations. In three experiments, employing hypothetical contributions as well as real monetary allocation in a dictator-game, we found that identifiability increased generosity towards a member of the adversary group, but it decreased generosity towards a member of one's own group. Possible mechanisms underlying this interaction are discussed.
KW - Charitable giving
KW - Identifiable victim
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960840212&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.obhdp.2011.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.obhdp.2011.05.005
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AN - SCOPUS:79960840212
SN - 0749-5978
VL - 116
SP - 96
EP - 103
JO - Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
JF - Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
IS - 1
ER -