The Harmful Side of Thanks: Thankful Responses to High-Power GroupHelp Undermine Low-Power Groups’ Protest

摘要

Giving thanks has multiple psychological benefits. However, within intergroupcontexts, thankful responses from low-power to high-power group members couldsolidify the power hierarchy. The other-oriented nature of grateful expressionscould mask power differences and discourage low-power group members fromadvocating for their ingroup interests. In five studies ( =825), we examine the novel idea of a potentially harmful side of “thanks,” usingcorrelational and experimental designs and a follow-up. Across differentcontexts, expressing thanks to a high-power group member who transgressed andthen helped undermined low-power group members’ protest intentions and actualprotest. Thus, the expression of thanks can pacify members of low-power groups.We offer insights into the underlying process by showing that forgiveness of thehigh-power benefactor and system justification mediate this effect. Our findingsprovide evidence for a problematic side of gratitude within intergrouprelations. We discuss social implications.