The impact of stress on political intergroup biases

The formation of groups among humans is a result of our need to belong with others. Once a group is formed there is an understood outgroup, who is viewed as less than in comparison to ingroup members. Humans can take on many different identities, and some of the groups we place ourselves in are prioritized more than others. There is also evidence that conflict or stress can lead to further distinction between groups. Today, politics can be stressful, and many people hold their political affiliation in high regards to personal identity. This paper looks at how stress, both general and political, can moderate the relationship between how important an individual’s political ideology is and how they view the opposite party, or outgroup.