In-group binding moral values and reactive behavioral immune responses

Abstract Previous studies on psychological adaptations to pathogen threats revealed the link between pathogen psychology and group behavior, especially in-group-oriented mindsets such as conformity, and the endorsement of group binding moral values. The relationship between behavioral immune responses and in-group attitudes has been mostly discussed in relation to the adaptive strategy to avoid pathogens. Yet, there is the other side of the behavioral immune system: reactive defense against pathogens (e.g., soliciting social support from others). By operationally defining in-group-oriented mindsets as the endorsement of group binding moral values, we explored how the tendencies to avoid diseases and minimize the negative influences of contracted diseases were each related to in-group-oriented mindsets in two countries (Study 1: the UK, N = 645; Study 2: Japan, N = 651). We found that the endorsement of group binding moral values was robustly associated with the latter but not with the former, suggesting that the reactive side of pathogen psychology may play an important role in shaping in-group-oriented mindsets.