Self-anchoring toward groups shapes changes in intergroup attitudes during intergroup interactions

Previous research on intergroup interactions has offered rich theoretical explanations for how competition and cooperation influence intergroup relations, yet explanations for their contrasting effects on intergroup attitudes remain fragmented. This study investigated the role of self-anchoring in shaping intergroup attitudes during intergroup competition and cooperation. Across three experiments, we demonstrated that self-anchoring serves as a key psychological mechanism through which intergroup interaction influences intergroup attitudes. We examined both cognitive (personality trait similarity) and motivational (approach orientation reflected in psychological overlap) dimensions of self-anchoring. The findings showed that intergroup cooperation enhanced self-anchoring and improved attitudes toward the outgroup, relative to intergroup competition. The parallel mediation models confirmed that both cognitive and motivational dimensions of self-anchoring mediate the effects of intergroup interactions on outgroup attitudes. Further, experimental manipulation of self-anchoring resulted in corresponding changes in intergroup attitudes, confirming its causal role. These results illuminate how self-anchoring processes can explain the divergent effects of intergroup competition and cooperation on intergroup relations.