Ingroup Identification and Evaluations of Confessions from Ingroup and Outgroup Members

Abstract

We examined the role of ingroup identification in people’s responses to confessions by ingroup versus outgroup members. Across two studies, participants were exposed to ingroup or outgroup members who confessed to an offence against the ingroup or outgroup. The targets made their confessions either with remorse or with no remorse. Participants’ levels of ingroup identification were also assessed. Across our studies, we found that participants felt more favorable toward an individual who confessed with remorse versus no remorse. We also found that participants felt more favorable toward an outgroup confessor compared to an ingroup one. Finally, we found that high identifiers were more willing to forgive an outgroup perpetrator who confessed to an offence against their own group with no remorse. Our results indicate that people’s responses to ingroup versus outgroup confessions are partly influenced by their group membership and levels of identification.