Understanding Decision-Making In Conflict: Group Power, Norms And Cost-Benefit Analyses (2006-2008)

Conflict is common. Racial, religious, and political groups are regularly in conflict in Australia, as are rural-urban regions, or firms and employees. Individuals responses range widely, from inaction to grumbling to voting to rioting. The present research studies how people decide how to react to conflict. It tests the idea that group-level factors shape people s perceptions of the costs and benefits of available options. Laboratory studies will show that group identity, norms and power change the way people evaluate costs and benefits. Field studies will then show that these processes influence real Australians conflict choices. This project will improve our ability to predict irrational conflict dynamics and to manage them.