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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/
100812111059.htm
'Fused' People Eager to Die and Kill for Their Group, Research Shows
ScienceDaily (Aug. 13, 2010) People with extremely strong ties to their
countries or groups are not only willing, but eager, to sacrifice themselves to
save their compatriots, according to new psychology research from The
University of Texas at Austin.
In a study to appear in Psychological Science, Bill Swann, professor of
psychology, and a team of researchers found the majority of "fused" people,
those who view themselves as completely immersed in a group (be it ethnic,
national or other), are willing to commit extreme acts for the good of their
compatriots.
"Fused group members believe that through suicide, their lives will achieve
tremendous significance," Swann said. "Their strong sense of moral agency
drives them to see not only that justice is done, but to also take an active
role in its implementation."
The psychology researchers who co-authored the study included Sonia Hart of The
University of Texas at Austin, Angel Gomez of Universidad Nacional de Educacion
a Distancia in Spain, John F. Dovidio of Yale University and Jolanda Jetten of
the University of Queensland.
In the study, the researchers recruited 506 college students at the Universidad
Nacional de Educacion a Distancia in Spain. Based on the students' answers in
online questionnaires, the researchers identified 38 percent of the
participants as "fused" as compared to "non-fused," with Spain. They then
measured their self-sacrificial behaviors.
To test the subjects' willingness to die for their group, the researchers based
their Web surveys on different variations of the "Trolley Problem." Coined by
British philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomas in 1967, the "Trolley Problem"
presents a hypothetical moral dilemma in which a person must choose whether to
kill one person to save five strangers from a fatal trolley collision either by
pushing a man in front of the tracks or simply flipping a switch that would
automatically kill an innocent bystander. To put a new spin on the moral
dilemma, the researchers added self-sacrifice as a means of saving a member of
their group from a runaway trolley.
The study revealed that an overwhelming majority of fused respondents are
willing to take extreme, bold steps to save the lives of their group members.
According to the findings:
* 75 percent are willing to jump to their deaths to save the lives of five
group members, compared to 25 percent of participants who were not fused with
their country.
* 88 percent said they would die to save five members of an extended
in-group (Europe), but not members of an out-group (America). The researchers
used Europe as an example of an extended in-group (outsiders with close
cultural or moral affiliations) because of its common social, political and
economic ties to Spain. They used America as an example of an out-group because
it is far removed from Spain.
* When given the option to push aside a fellow group member who is about to
sacrifice himself to kill some escaped terrorists, 63 percent said they would
push the group member aside so they, themselves, could leap to their deaths to
divert a train that would then kill the terrorists.
Swann said the study may offer new insights into the mindsets of groups with
extremist ideology.
"In an era in which the act of sacrificing one's own life for the group has had
world-altering consequences, it is critical to learn more about the
psychological underpinnings of such activity," Swann said.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily
staff) from materials provided by University of Texas at Austin.
Journal Reference:
1. Swann WB Jr, Gómez A, Dovidio JF, Hart S, Jetten J. Dying and Killing for
One's Group: Identity Fusion Moderates Responses to Intergroup Versions of the
Trolley Problem. Psychological Science, 2010; DOI: 10.1177/0956797610376656
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the
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University of Texas at Austin (2010, August 13). 'Fused' people eager to die
and kill for their group, research shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 14,
2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/08/100812111059.htm
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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