Similarity Predicts Cross-National Social Preferences

Humans are not purely selfish money maximizers. Most individuals take into account consequences for others in their decisions, reflecting social preferences. In a large-scale study (N = 2,889) involving population-representative samples from 10 nations, we investigated social preferences toward different national out-groups. Social preferences varied systematically depending on the other person's nationality. Individuals showed higher social preferences toward others from nations rated similar to their own nation in terms of the stereotype content dimensions of agency, conservative/progressive beliefs, and communion (ABC) and, to a lesser extent, the Hofstede cultural dimensions. Similarity according to the ABC stereotypes more strongly predicted out-group-specific social preferences than similarity according to the Hofstede cultural dimensions. The effects of similarity on social preferences increased with identification with the national in-group. Results support self-categorization theory, but not social identity theory, indicating that perceptions of similarity influence interaction behavior between individuals from different nations.