Parochialism as a result of cognitive biases

Abstract

In Chapter 8, psychologist and expert on judgment and decision making Jonathan Baron identifies cognitive biases whereby individuals sacrifice self-interest for the benefit of ingroup members-especially in the presence of an affected out-group and especially when the effect on out-group members results from omission rather than action. According to Baron’s research, people are also misled by a “self-interest illusion,” fallaciously believing that their sacrifices for the group redound to their personal benefit even when their actions incur a net personal cost.