Abstract.
Intergroup relations tend to be more competitive than relations between individuals.
This difference, called the ‘‘discontinuity effect,’’ has been demonstrated
under a wide variety of conditions. Two separate explanations for
the discontinuity effect were explored in our research. The first
explanation is that something about playing against a group leads people
to compete. The second explanation is that something about being in
a group leads people to compete. The results supported both explanations,
although the evidence more strongly favored the effect of being in a group.
Distrust mediated both effects.