Intergroup conflict can be tricky to define clearly. Two studies looked at why groups might downplay conflict with another group, focusing on how important each group feels compared to the other. They found that conflict is more likely to be downplayed when one group feels higher status than the other. This effect is stronger when talking to the other group than when talking to your own group. The status of the groups also affects how much they insult each other. High-status groups tend to insult the other group more, but this can be reduced if they downplay the conflict. The relationship between groups is a key part of how they interact.