Different types of stress alter moral attitude towards outgroup members

Abstract

We have examined moral attitudes towards outgroup members of people in different types of stress conditions. Participants (N = 86) solved moral dilemmas based on aggressor-ingroup member and victim-outgroup member oppositions. The comparison of the present research data with previous ones conducted on children reveals statistically significant regression to early “childish” forms of behavior in moral choice situations, namely the preference by adults for the strategy of supporting an ingroup member even if he acts unfairly. There are no significant differences in behavior of people in different types of stress. Reversible increasing of low-differentiated systems to support behavior (i.e. system dedifferentiation) is common for stressful situation. This work was supported by Russian Science Foundation Grant № 14-28-00229, Institute of Psychology RAS. Refs 33. Table 1.