Journal Article

The Neuroscience of Intergroup Relations: An Integrative Review

Cikara, Mina, Van Bavel, Jay J.

2014

Overview

We review emerging research on the psychological and biological factors that underlie social group formation, cooperation, and conflict in humans. Our aim is to integrate the intergroup neuroscience literature with classic theories of group processes and intergroup relations in an effort to move beyond merely describing the effects of specific social out-groups on the brain and behavior. Instead, we emphasize the underlying psychological processes that govern intergroup interactions more generally: forming and updating our representations of \"us\" and \"them\" via social identification and functional relations between groups. This approach highlights the dynamic nature of social identity and the context-dependent nature of intergroup relations. We argue that this theoretical integration can help reconcile seemingly discrepant findings in the literature, provide organizational principles for understanding the core elements of intergroup dynamics, and highlight several exciting directions for future research at the interface of intergroup relations and neuroscience.

• Publisher: Sage Publications,SAGE Publications
• Subject: Behavioral neuroscience / Biological and medical sciences / Brain / Cognitive psychology / Cooperation / Empathy / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Intergroup relations / Neurosciences / Personality psychology / Psychological processes / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychology. Psychophysiology / Social attribution, perception and cognition / Social cognition / Social groups / Social identification / Social identity / Social interaction / Social interactions. Communication. Group processes / Social psychology / Stereotypes