When groups mixed, shared cooperation was rewarded more
In a game with 366 people, cooperation across groups rose when cross-group meetings were assigned or chosen, although most people chose their own group.
The key idea
Even though most people preferred their own group, the few cross-group meetings went along with greater rewards for cooperation that benefited everyone.
The study, in plain language
In the game, participants made decisions about a shared resource and could then reward others. The team compared three rules: interact only within one’s own group, be paired with someone from the other group, or freely choose whom to meet. There were 366 people in groups of six, playing twenty rounds.
Cooperation that benefited both groups was greater when cross-group meetings took place, whether they were assigned or chosen. When free to choose, most people opted for someone from their own group: only 37% of choices were directed toward the other group. Even so, those meetings tended to reward cooperation that benefited both groups.
Those who played with assigned or freely chosen cross-group meetings also reported identifying less exclusively with their own group and more with a community that included both.
What they found
- There was more cooperation that benefited both groups when cross-group meetings were allowed.
- When free to choose, most people preferred to meet someone from their own group.
- With cross-group meetings, participants also felt more part of a community that included both groups.
How they studied it
A controlled experiment with a preregistered analysis plan included 366 participants in groups of six over twenty rounds. The team compared three conditions: interacting only with members of one’s own group, being assigned members of the other group, or being able to choose. They measured cooperation, rewards, and group identification.
What the study cannot show
- An experimental task does not guarantee the same behavior in everyday life.
- The result depends on the experiment’s rules and participants.
Something to think about
When you can choose whom to work with, do you look for people from your own group? In the game, those who met people from the other group, even if only a few did, ended up rewarding cooperation across the groups.
The original study
Free mobility across group boundaries promotes intergroup cooperation
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
