The ingroup preference in prosocial behavior: From the perspective of social motives

<p indent="0mm">Prosocial behaviors encompass actions that benefit others and society, fostering interpersonal harmony and social stability. However, individuals do not consistently exhibit uniform kindness toward others, particularly in the context of intergroup relationships. Previous research indicates a clear ingroup preference for prosocial actions beginning in childhood, where individuals are more inclined to help those perceived as part of their own group due to shared identities and common interests. Interestingly, evidence suggests instances of outgroup favoritism in specific contexts; for example, during the recent influx of refugees in Europe, some individuals displayed a greater willingness to help outgroup members than ingroup members. Such findings underscore the complexity of motivations behind prosocial behaviors in intergroup contexts, indicating that these motivations are not static and may vary based on situational factors and individual differences. Therefore, identifying the specific motivations driving prosocial behaviors toward ingroup and outgroup members is crucial for understanding the dynamics of intergroup relations. This paper expands on Batson’s theoretical framework of prosocial behavior motives by incorporating existing neuroimaging research to illustrate how altruism, egoism, and collectivism collectively amplify ingroup bias in prosocial behaviors. Conversely, principlism acts as a regulatory mechanism that reduces bias and promotes prosocial actions toward outgroup members. In the first section, we summarize relevant neural circuits involved in prosocial behaviors, illustrating that such behaviors are linked to neural networks engaged in reward processing, self-control, mentalizing, and emotional salience. The second section discusses the impacts of the four primary motives—altruism, egoism, collectivism, and principlism—on intergroup preferences in prosocial behaviors. This discussion elucidates the motivating roles of empathy, social identity, reciprocity, and egalitarian social norms, highlighting how these factors can either enhance or diminish prosocial behaviors. We further investigate how these motivations interact, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the underlying processes that drive prosocial actions. In the third section, we propose intervention methods aimed at promoting prosocial behaviors toward outgroup members based on the identified motivational drivers. Suggested methods include empathy training, mindfulness practices, fostering an empathetic mindset, and systematically altering perceptions of group boundaries to broaden the definition of ingroup membership. These interventions are designed to cultivate a more inclusive perspective, ultimately enhancing the propensity for prosocial actions toward diverse social groups. Finally, we summarize the main conclusions of this paper and outline potential future directions for research on prosocial behavior in the context of intergroup relationships. We advocate for the application of computational modeling and advanced brain imaging techniques, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional connectivity analysis, to deepen our understanding of the formation of motivational processes. Additionally, existing research indicates that childhood and adolescence are critical periods for developing intergroup relations and prosocial behavior. Therefore, prioritizing research on interventions to mitigate group biases during these developmental stages could play a vital role in promoting prosocial behaviors toward outgroups and contribute to establishing a harmonious society.