Bad apples and black sheep: Threat of ostracism as determinant of reactions to deviant behavior of ingroup and outgroup members

J.W. Ouwerkerk

Abstract

Within a public good dilemma people have a tendency to follow the behavior of a single uncooperative individual (i.e., a bad apple) rather than the behavior of a single cooperative individual. The present research shows that this bad apple effect is stronger when a deviant individual is categorized as an ingroup member (i.e., when the bad apple is a black sheep) rather than an outgroup member. Furthermore, inconsistent with research on the black sheep effect, a deviant individual was evaluated more extreme when he or she was categorized as an outgroup member rather than an ingroup member. In addition, the present research demonstrates that the bad apple effect can be attenuated when there is a threat to be ostracized. That is, consistent with a functional perspective on ostracism, the possibility to be excluded from the group reduced the tendency to follow the behavior of a non-cooperative individual.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 20 Jul 2005
Event	14th General Meeting of the European Association for Experimental Social Psychology - Würzberg, Germany Duration: 19 Jul 2005 → 23 Jul 2005

Conference

Conference	14th General Meeting of the European Association for Experimental Social Psychology
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Würzberg
Period	19/07/05 → 23/07/05

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title = "Bad apples and black sheep: Threat of ostracism as determinant of reactions to deviant behavior of ingroup and outgroup members",

abstract = "Within a public good dilemma people have a tendency to follow the behavior of a single uncooperative individual (i.e., a bad apple) rather than the behavior of a single cooperative individual. The present research shows that this bad apple effect is stronger when a deviant individual is categorized as an ingroup member (i.e., when the bad apple is a black sheep) rather than an outgroup member. Furthermore, inconsistent with research on the black sheep effect, a deviant individual was evaluated more extreme when he or she was categorized as an outgroup member rather than an ingroup member. In addition, the present research demonstrates that the bad apple effect can be attenuated when there is a threat to be ostracized. That is, consistent with a functional perspective on ostracism, the possibility to be excluded from the group reduced the tendency to follow the behavior of a non-cooperative individual.",

author = "J.W. Ouwerkerk",

year = "2005",

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day = "20",

language = "English",

note = "14th General Meeting of the European Association for Experimental Social Psychology ; Conference date: 19-07-2005 Through 23-07-2005",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Bad apples and black sheep: Threat of ostracism as determinant of reactions to deviant behavior of ingroup and outgroup members

AU - Ouwerkerk, J.W.

PY - 2005/7/20

Y1 - 2005/7/20

N2 - Within a public good dilemma people have a tendency to follow the behavior of a single uncooperative individual (i.e., a bad apple) rather than the behavior of a single cooperative individual. The present research shows that this bad apple effect is stronger when a deviant individual is categorized as an ingroup member (i.e., when the bad apple is a black sheep) rather than an outgroup member. Furthermore, inconsistent with research on the black sheep effect, a deviant individual was evaluated more extreme when he or she was categorized as an outgroup member rather than an ingroup member. In addition, the present research demonstrates that the bad apple effect can be attenuated when there is a threat to be ostracized. That is, consistent with a functional perspective on ostracism, the possibility to be excluded from the group reduced the tendency to follow the behavior of a non-cooperative individual.

AB - Within a public good dilemma people have a tendency to follow the behavior of a single uncooperative individual (i.e., a bad apple) rather than the behavior of a single cooperative individual. The present research shows that this bad apple effect is stronger when a deviant individual is categorized as an ingroup member (i.e., when the bad apple is a black sheep) rather than an outgroup member. Furthermore, inconsistent with research on the black sheep effect, a deviant individual was evaluated more extreme when he or she was categorized as an outgroup member rather than an ingroup member. In addition, the present research demonstrates that the bad apple effect can be attenuated when there is a threat to be ostracized. That is, consistent with a functional perspective on ostracism, the possibility to be excluded from the group reduced the tendency to follow the behavior of a non-cooperative individual.

M3 - Abstract

T2 - 14th General Meeting of the European Association for Experimental Social Psychology

Y2 - 19 July 2005 through 23 July 2005

ER -