Effects of synchronous chanting and identity fusion on perceived ingroup formidability, outgroup threat, and parochial altruism among soccer fans

Abstract

Previous research indicates that social synchrony simultaneously increases ingroup bonding and prosociality, whilst also having the potential to make groups appear more formidable or threatening. However, many such studies have been carried out in artificial settings or in minimal groups which lack preexisting bonds or histories of prosocial action or intergroup rivalry. Here we investigate: 1) whether a synchronous display is perceived as more formidable by ingroups and outgroups, and more threatening by outgroups, in a real-world context involving football (soccer) fans; 2) whether these perceptions extend to behavioral decisions towards ingroups and outgroups; and 3) whether ‘identity fusion’ with the ingroup moderates these relationships. A sample of 771 Brazilian soccer fans took part in a pre-registered conceptual replication online study in which they randomly listened to either a synchronous or asynchronous soccer chant. Both ingroups and outgroups judged the synchronous stimuli to make the performers seem more formidable, but not more threatening. At the behavioral level, we found no effect for synchrony on pro-group behaviors or outgroup derogation, but there was a significant interaction indicating that highly ‘fused’ participants who perceived rival fans to be more threatening tended to engage in more outgroup hostility, even at a cost to self. These results parallel previous studies showing synchrony's effects on perceived ingroup formidability and provide novel insights into the role of social bonding and perceived outgroup threat as contributing factors in the evolution of intergroup conflict in real world situations.