Ritualistic Initiations and Outgroup Denigration: The Roles of Effort Justification, Identity Fusion, and Positive Distinctiveness

Abstract

Ritualistic initiations are potent social practices that foster cohesion, loyalty, and commitment among group members. However, the same processes that strengthen these social bonds may also heighten hostility and denigration towards outgroups. The present study examines how the extremity of initiation rituals influences outgroup denigration through effort justification, identity fusion, and positive distinctiveness, respectively. Drawing from social identity theory, cognitive dissonance theory, and identity fusion theory, it is believed that individuals who undergo extreme initiations will ascribe greater value to the group to justify the effort they’ve invested, thereby increasing identity fusion. These processes are expected to promote outgroup denigration. Participants will be randomly assigned to complete extreme, mild, or no initiation tasks before engaging in group-based decision-making and evaluation tasks. Outgroup denigration will be measured through explicit behavioral and attitudinal rating scales, as well as resource allocation tasks. It is hypothesized that participants within the extreme initiation condition will exhibit greater identity fusion, leading to higher ingroup ratings, lower outgroup ratings, and fewer resources allocated to outgroup members. Findings from this study hope to provide insight into how initiation rituals can shape social identity and intergroup attitudes, with implications for understanding cohesion, conformity, and discrimination within highly bonded groups, as well as for creating healthier interventions that preserve the positive aspects of group membership.