Most people are members of different groups. The norms of these groups can be contradicting, leading to dissonance within the social self. This form of dissonance is based solely individuals’ membership in ingroups with conflicting norms. Building on Social Identity Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory, we assume that norm conflict between ingroups increases psychological discomfort, particularly for people who are highly identified with both ingroups. We will test mechanisms to cope with norm conflict between ingroups, namely lowering the credibility of the norm conflict information and/or norm prototypicality as well as compartmentalization and the restorative function of agentic groups. Norm conflict will be manipulated by showing participants the results of a bogus survey, indicating that their ingroups agree or disagree on a moral dilemma.

Dataset for: Becker, A. M., Masson, T., & Fritsche, I. (2023). Dissonance within the social self: Exploring the effects of norm conflict between ingroups. Comprehensive Results in Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743603.2023.2214965