Tolerance of effective ingroup deviants as a function of moral disengagement / Tolerancia de la disidencia efectiva de los miembros del endogrupo como función de la desconexión moral. Issue 3 (2nd September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aguiar, Tiago; Campos, Miguel; Pinto, Isabel R.; Marques, José M.
• Is Part Of: Revista de psicología social. Volume 32:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 659
• Page End: 678
• Publication Date: 2017-09-02
• Subjects: black sheep effect -- moral disengagement -- subjective group dynamics -- tolerance for deviance; efecto oveja negra -- desconexión moral -- dinámica de grupo subjetiva -- tolerancia a la desviación; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Social psychology; Periodicals; 302
• DOI: 10.1080/02134748.2017.1352169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0213-4748

Abstract

Abstract: The subjective group dynamics theory posits that individuals derogate ingroup members who deviate from prescriptive moral norms. Research on moral disengagement suggests that deviants may, sometimes, be tolerated. This study's goal was to test whether leniency towards effective ingroup deviants is accounted for by mechanisms of moral disengagement. Portuguese participants ( N = 75) judged a Portuguese (ingroup) or Spanish (outgroup) manager whose deviant conduct was either effective (i.e., had positive consequences) or ineffective (i.e., had negative consequences) for a Portuguese company. As predicted, participants favoured deviant but effective ingroup members. This was mediated by an increase in moral disengagement and a decrease in negative emotional reactions. Results suggest that individuals downplay the importance of moral norms when facing ambiguous ingroup deviants, as a means to protect their social identity. We discuss these results in light of subjective group dynamics theory.