When ingroup favoritism is not the social norm a lab-in-the-field experiment with victims and non-victims of conflict in Colombia

We present the results of a lab-in-the-field experiment run with ex-combatants, victims, and non-victims of conflict in Colombia. In our setting, subjects make contributions to a public good paired with members of the three groups. By comparing contributions when paired with members of their own group with contributions when paired with members of the other two groups, we elicit both outgroup discrimination (towards ex-combatants) and discrimination of the 'other ingroup' (non-victims for victims, and victims for non victims). As participants make contribution decisions first unconditionally and then conditionally using the strategy method, we distinguish beliefs-based from preferences-based discrimination. We also elicit empirical and normative expectations of all participants in the different interactions, for which we study the role played by social norms. Our results suggest that victims and non-victims discriminate against ex-combatants significantly more than they discriminate each other, and that the discrimination of ex-combatants is preference-based. Consistently with needs-based and inclusive victimhood models, victims discriminate against ex-combatants significantly less than non-victims. In line with stigma reversal, victims are discriminated by non-victims, even when they do not discriminate against them, and discrimination is driven by high status individuals. While victims and non-victims hold different expectations about each other, and act accordingly, they both exhibit the same discriminatory empirical and normative expectations towards ex combatants, but non-victims discriminate against them more intensely. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study conducted an experiment with ex-combatants, victims, and non-victims of conflict in Colombia, examining their contributions to a public good. The results show that victims and non-victims discriminate more against ex-combatants compared to each other, and this discrimination is preference-based rather than belief-based.