Differing Conceptions of Interpersonal and Intergroup Conflict Resolution Across the Lifespan

Conflicts between individuals and between groups are common across human relationships, making effective conflict resolution essential for flourishing societies. Yet, how conceptions of interpersonal and intergroup conflicts develop with age remains largely unexplored. We investigated perceptions of, expectations about, and responses to interpersonal and intergroup conflicts in children (N = 97, Mage = 7.54, 45% female, 41% White), adolescents (N = 180, Mage = 13.17, 43% female, 59% White), and adults (N = 201, Mage = 38.98, 54% female, 78% White) tested in 2023. Participants viewed transgressions with ambiguous perpetrator intent between an individual perpetrator and an individual victim (interpersonal) or between a group perpetrator and a group victim (intergroup). All participants perceived more negative intent and expected less forgiveness in intergroup conflicts than in interpersonal conflicts, while adolescents and adults also punished more, and adults additionally expected less trust and perceived greater transgression severity. Harsher perceptions and expectations in intergroup relative to interpersonal conflicts were explained by greater intentionality being attributed to group perpetrators than individual perpetrators. With age, children increasingly perceived more negative intent and expected less trust in intergroup conflicts, appearing increasingly adultlike. Findings demonstrate that, compared with interpersonal conflicts, harsher conceptions of intergroup conflicts emerge early in development and strengthen across the lifespan.