Reactions to Social Dilemmas as a Function of Group Identity, Rational Calculations, and Social Context

A group identification approach to social dilemmas is proposed, and the results of three studies are presented. Study 1 found that members of real groups were more cooperative than members of contrived groups and that this effect was mediated by group identification. Study 2 showed that participants were more cooperative when their in-group was in the majority and that this effect was moderated by strength of group identity. Study 3 replicated the mediation pattern found in Study 1 using different groups and a more rigorous method. In all three studies, measures of group concern, group trust, normative expectations, concern for personal benefit, estimated futility, and estimated redundancy were also administered. Both group identification and ego incentive motives need to be considered to fully understand people's responses to social dilemmas under varying social circumstances.