Saturday, August 14, 2010

People with extremely strong ties to their countries or groups are not only willing, but eager, to sacrifice themselves to save their compatriots

A team of researchers found that the majority of "fused" people, those who view themselves as completely immersed in a group (be it ethnic, national or other), are willing to commit extreme acts for the good of their compatriots. The study revealed that an overwhelming majority of fused respondents are willing to take extreme, bold steps to save the lives of their group members. According to the findings 75% are willing to jump to their deaths to save the lives of five group members, compared to 25% of participants who were not fused with their country and 88% said they would die to save five members of an extended in-group (Europe), but not members of an out-group (America). The researchers used Europe as an example of an extended in-group (outsiders with close cultural or moral affiliations) because of its common social, political and economic ties to Spain where the research was conducted. They used America as an example of an out-group because it is far removed from Spain. When given the option to push aside a fellow group member who is about to sacrifice himself to kill some escaped terrorists, 63% said they would push the group member aside so they, themselves, could leap to their deaths to divert a train that would then kill the terrorists.

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