THE INFLUENCE OF INTERGROUP STATUS ON PUNISHMENT MOTIVES TOWARDS INGROUP AND OUTGROUP OFFENDERS

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the moderating effects of individuals’ intergroup status on their punishment motives towards ingroup and outgroup offenders. It was hypothesized that high intergroup status NUS undergraduates would exhibit a preference for utilitarian punishment over restorative punishment towards NTU offenders and vice-versa towards NUS offenders. Conversely, low intergroup status NUS undergraduates would have a higher utilitarian punishment motive relative to a restorative punishment motive towards NUS offenders and vice-versa towards NTU undergraduates. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four moral scenarios based on a 2 (offender’s categorization: ingroup and outgroup) ×2 (intergroup status: low and high) between-subjects design. Participants then rated their utilitarian and restorative punishment motives towards the hypothetical offender. The results revealed that contrary to expectations, individuals’ intergroup status did not moderate punishment motives towards ingroup and outgroup offenders. Also, low intergroup status participants showed a slightly stronger utilitarian punishment motive towards an ingroup than an outgroup offender. Finally, participants showed a stronger restorative punishment motive than utilitarian punishment motive. These findings were discussed in relation to the demographics of the sample and the socio-historical context of Singapore.