The Harmful Side of Thanks: Thankful Responses to High-Power Group Help Undermine Low-Power Groups’ Protest

Giving thanks has multiple psychological benefits. However, within intergroup contexts, thankful responses from low-power to high-power group members could solidify the power hierarchy. The other-oriented nature of grateful expressions could mask power differences and discourage low-power group memb...

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Vydáno v:Personality & social psychology bulletin Ročník 46; číslo 5; s. 794 - 807
Hlavní autoři: Ksenofontov, Inna, Becker, Julia C.
Médium: Journal Article
Jazyk:angličtina
Vydáno: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2020
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Témata:
Adult
Female
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Hierarchy, Social
Humans
Intention
Intergroup relations
Interpersonal Relations
Justification
Male
Power
Young Adult
system justification
expressions of thanks
protest
forgiveness
intergroup helping
ISSN:0146-1672, 1552-7433, 1552-7433
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Shrnutí:Giving thanks has multiple psychological benefits. However, within intergroup contexts, thankful responses from low-power to high-power group members could solidify the power hierarchy. The other-oriented nature of grateful expressions could mask power differences and discourage low-power group members from advocating for their ingroup interests. In five studies (N = 825), we examine the novel idea of a potentially harmful side of “thanks,” using correlational and experimental designs and a follow-up. Across different contexts, expressing thanks to a high-power group member who transgressed and then helped undermined low-power group members’ protest intentions and actual protest. Thus, the expression of thanks can pacify members of low-power groups. We offer insights into the underlying process by showing that forgiveness of the high-power benefactor and system justification mediate this effect. Our findings provide evidence for a problematic side of gratitude within intergroup relations. We discuss social implications.
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ISSN:0146-1672
1552-7433
1552-7433
DOI:10.1177/0146167219879125