Parochial altruism refers to the tendency of individuals to favor those in their own group while acting less cooperatively toward outsiders. This concept is often used to explain why diverse societies experience social discord. A new research from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology challenges the assumption that diversity alone leads to division. The specific study conducted in two multi-ethnic communities in Colombia suggests that economic need plays a larger role in shaping intergroup relationships than ethnic identity alone. Findings were published on 20 January 2025 in Evolutionary Human Sciences.
Breaking the Us vs Them Mentality: Why Economic Perception, Not Just Identity, Influences Social Cooperation
Overview of the Study
Researchers C. T. Ross and A. C. Pisor examined Afrocolombian and Emberá residents to understand how they interact with members of their own group and those from other groups. They conducted ethnographic research to observe daily interactions, social network analysis to draw patterns of friendship and cooperation, and experimental economic games to measure financial decision-making in different scenarios.
Participants were specifically asked who they were friends with, who they helped, and who helped them. They were also given small amounts of money to either keep, share, or use to reduce the earnings of others. The findings revealed significant variation in behavior between communities and among individuals within each community, suggesting that economic perceptions influenced cooperation more than ethnic identity alone.
Important Findings
• Traditional explanations of group conflict may be oversimplified: Many assume that people are inherently wired for in-group favoritism and out-group hostility. The study shows that while people tend to form friendships within their own groups, economic considerations often override pure group identity in cooperative and competitive interactions.
• Economic need influences cooperation more than group identity: The study found that both Afrocolombians and Emberá were more likely to help in-group members. However, people did not necessarily take money from out-group members unless they perceived the out-group as being better off. This suggests that economic perceptions shape behavior more than simple ethnic identity.
• Social behaviors change based on perceived economic conditions: In one community, Afrocolombians perceived the Emberá as struggling and helped them. In another, they incorrectly viewed their Emberá neighbors as economically stable and were less generous. This demonstrates that perceptions of wealth, rather than actual ethnic divisions, influence cooperation and antagonism.
Policy and Research Implications
The results indicate that social conflict does not arise simply from diversity but from economic inequalities and misperceptions. Individuals were more likely to support those they believed were in genuine need, even if they belonged to a different ethnic group. This challenges the idea that people are inherently programmed to favor their in-group and oppose outsiders. People display flexibility in their social behavior based on their understanding of economic conditions.
Addressing economic disparities can promote social harmony in diverse communities Policies that reduce wealth inequality and improve economic opportunities for all groups may help minimize tensions. Researchers investigating intergroup relationships should consider economic perceptions alongside ethnic and cultural factors. Understanding the true drivers of cooperation and conflict can lead to better strategies for fostering social cohesion in multi-ethnic societies.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Ross, C. T. and Pisor, A. C. 2025. “Perceived Inequality and Variability in the Expression of Parochial Altruism.” In Evolutionary Human Sciences. 7. Cambridge University Press. DOI: 1017/ehs.2024.43