Intergroup emotional similarity reduces dehumanization and promotes conciliatory attitudes in prolonged conflict
Abstract
Creating a sense of interpersonal similarity of attitudes and values is associated with increased attraction and liking. Applying these findings in an intergroup setting, though, has yielded mixed support. Theorizing from a social identity perspective suggests that highlighting intergroup similarity may lead to increased antipathy to the extent that it is perceived as a threat to one’s unique social identity. To circumvent this process, we examine the influence of emotional similarity, rather than attitudinal or value similarity, with the expectation that the short-term nature of emotions may evoke less threat to one’s social identity. Moreover, given the importance of emotions in intergroup humanization processes, we expected that emotional similarity would be associated with greater conciliatory attitudes due to an increase in humanization of the outgroup. We report results from two studies supporting these predictions. Following exposure to an anger-eliciting news story, Jewish Israeli participants were given information that their own emotional reaction to the story was similar (or not) to an individual member of the outgroup (Study 1: Palestinian citizen of Israel) or the outgroup as a whole (Study 2: Palestinians of the West Bank). As predicted, emotional similarity was associated with increased humanization of the outgroup, and a subsequent increase in one’s willingness to support conciliatory political policies toward the outgroup. We conclude that emotional similarity may be a productive avenue for future intergroup interventions, particularly between groups where differences in attitudes and values are foundational to the intergroup conflict.
... One possible explanation for the variation between the effect of the message on different audiences could be inferred by the interpretation to the risk taken by the story's main figure. Past studies conducted in the context of a violent protracted conflict revealed that a message by outgroup members deviating from their group norms towards peace, especially when such deviation was perceived as risky, created increased trust, openness towards the outgroup and hope for improved relations with them(McDonald et al., 2017;Saguy & Halperin, 2014). Our second study suggested that the main figure in the story, who is presented as a simple outgroup member took specific risks when deviating from his group norms towards peace. ...
Deep distrust of the rival is widely shared among members of society involved in intractable conflicts, and constitutes a major barrier for peace-building. In the current research we examine an intervention aimed at legitimizing the other side as a partner to peace that can be trusted through providing information about a peaceful change among a member of the rival group. Study 1 (N = 253) revealed that providing Jewish-Israelis with such information about a Palestinian increases unfreezing, trust of the rival group, and support for peace-building compared to the control condition. Moreover, we found that unfreezing followed by trust mediated the effect of the intervention on increased support for peace-building. Comparing the effects of four variations of the change story, we found in Study 2 (N = 801) that the story of a Palestinian who had to deal with adversity within his own group created more trust and hope among rightist participants, while the story of a Palestinian coming from the family that believes in peace created heightened trust and hope for center-left participants. We offer insights into ideological-based differences of persuasive messages relating to peace-building.
... Some studies that show that intergroup similarity can lead to negative intergroup attitudes in the sense that it may constitute a threat to the desired in-group distinctiveness (in adults : Diehl, 1988;Jetten et al., 2001;Roccas & Schwartz, 1993;in adolescents: Brown & Abrams, 1986). Other studies that show that intergroup similarity can lead to positive intergroup attitudes (in adults: Grant, 1993;López-Rodríguez et al., 2017;McDonald et al., 2017;van Osch & Breugelmans, 2012;West et al., 2014). However, it is not clear how these contradictory hypotheses manifest among children. ...
Children notice similarities and dissimilarities between people very early in life and are capable of categorizing people into in-groups and out-groups based on these perceptions. Previous research presented contradictory evidence concerning the effects of intergroup (dis)similarity perceptions on intergroup attitudes — or whether similarity-attraction or similarity-differentiation occurs. However, scant research has examined how this plays out in children. The present study aimed to
assess how inducing (dis)similarities between in- and out-group members affects children’s intergroup attitudes and concepts (positive behavioral intentions, resource distribution, distance, perceived (dis)similarity, and essentialism). We investigated 100 5- and 8-year-old Jewish-Israeli children (48% girls), in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, regarding their in-group and a “conflict” out-group (Arabs). A pre- and post-test assessed three condition intervention effects on intergroup attitudes: Full, Partial, or No Similarity between the participant and a
member of the out-group. The intervention was based on provision of fully similar, partial similar or no similar information about an out-group member according to eight details the participants provided about themselves at T0, referring to their preferences, interests, family composition, and personal appearance. The findings revealed that, generally, Full and Partial Similarity improved attitudes towards the out-group to the same extent, and No Similarity worsened them. Developmental
differences were found regarding the effect of the intervention on essentialism. The
findings have implications for early intervention programs that include acquaintance with similarities between groups and between their members.
... There are other ways in which emotion can relate to humanity without involving secondary emotions. [32] showed that feeling primary emotions similar to outgroup members' reported emotions (specifically, fear vs. anger towards an increase in traffic accidents) improved Jewish Israelis' attitudes towards Palestinians, and reduced dehumanization of them. Other research [33] compared outgroups who were described as feeling four primary emotions on two separate occasions. ...
... There are various approaches to reduce dehumanization that have been scientifically tested (e.g., countering stereotypes; Prati et al., 2015;inducing empathy;McDonald et al., 2017; Moore-Berg et al., 2022; highlighting hypocrisy; Gallardo et al., 2022;Bruneau et al., 2018). ...
Dehumanization continues to be prevalent today and predicts detrimental intergroup consequences. Thus, it is important to identify novel interventions that reduce dehumanization and explore the mechanism(s)—both established (e.g., empathy induction, intergroup contact) and relatively understudied (e.g., humor)—driving the effects. To address this issue, in Study 1 (N = 2,349), we conducted an “intervention tournament” and found that a video (i.e., ‘Mean Tweets’) of a relatable and diverse group of young Muslims ridiculing Islamophobic comments posted on an online video of a Muslim preschool burning down effectively reduces hostility towards Muslims. Specifically, the ‘Mean tweets’ intervention significantly reduced dehumanization of Muslims and, although the effects were weaker, anti-Muslim policy support. However, a follow-up study conducted one month later revealed that these effects subsided. Next, in a preregistered study (i.e., Study 2) (N = 677), we find that our intervention reliably reduced dehumanization of Muslims, but the reduction of anti-Muslim policy support was not replicated. While investigating our intervention’s effect on anti-Muslim policy support, we find that our intervention led participants to discount the intervention’s intended message, which could have short-circuited the intervention’s effectiveness on policy support. Considering these results, we discuss the potential psychological processes (e.g., humor, message discounting, tone) underlying our dehumanization-reducing intervention.
У статті розкрито соціально-психологічні основи розвитку конфліктологічної компетентності фахівців медичної галузі в умовах професійної взаємодії. Проведено теоретико-методологічний аналіз системного, субʼєктно-діяльнісного, особистісно-компетентнісного, інтегративного підходів до вивчення проблеми конфліктологічної компетентності фахівців медичної галузі в умовах професійної взаємодії, у контексті яких така компетентність розглядається з точки зору цілісності, структурності, ієрархічності, динамічності і гуманістичності. Враховуючі зазначені підходи та узагальнене визначення поняття компетентності у науковому психологічному просторі, конфліктологічну компетентність фахівців медичної галузі в умовах професійної взаємодії розглянуто як регулятивну підструктуру їх професіоналізму і професійної діяльності, як інтегральну якість особистості і інтегральну когнітивну здатність, яка визначає темп формування та напрямки розвитку ситуації конфлікту, форми поведінки у конфліктній взаємодії і результати конфлікту, та має взаємозв’язок із соціально-перцептивною, ауто-психологічною, соціально-психологічною, адміністративно-правовою компетентностями, формування кожної з яких сприяє розвитку конфліктологічної компетентності фахівця-медика загалом. Розроблено інтегровану соціально-психологічну програму розвитку конфліктологічної компетентності фахівців медичної галузі в умовах професійної взаємодії, яка включала інформаційний блок (настановний та активізуючий модулі) щодо надання інформації про конфлікти, конфліктні форми взаємодії та ефективні стратегії поведінки у конфлікті в умовах професійної взаємодії фахівців-медиків; рефлексивний блок (практичний та асоціативний модулі) щодо актуалізації рефлексивних процесів у проблемно-конфліктних ситуаціях професійної медичної взаємодії, моделювання конфліктних ситуацій і групових рефлексивних процедур з метою накопичення метакогнітивного досвіду; розвивальний блок (стратегічний та моніторинговий модулі) щодо підвищення конфліктостійкості, формування навичок довільної саморегуляції психоемоційного і функціонального станів фахівців-медиків в умовах професійної взаємодії та оцінки ефективності програмних заходів. Дієвість розробленої програми доведена статистично значущим зростанням показників саморегуляції і самоконтролю, планування і прогнозування, мобілізації та адаптації у конфлікті; покращенням психоемоційного та функціонального станів; орієнтації на пошук ресурсів саморозвитку у вирішенні проблеми, особистісної зрілості, соціального інтересу та самодетермінації, рефлексивності та емпатії. Підвищилась конфліктостійкість фахівців-медиків, що сприяло розширенню просторово-часових меж сприйняття конфліктної проблеми в умовах професійної взаємодії, умінню ефективно використовувати конструктивні технології та стратегії запобігання конфлікту та його вирішення. Ключові слова:фахівці медичної галузі, професійна взаємодія, конфлікт, конфліктологічна компетентість,розвиток конфліктологічної компетентності.
Fake social media profiles, often operated by bots, have contributed to the virality of false information. To reach their intended audience, fake profiles utilize several strategies to create the perception that the user is interacting with a real human being. In this paper, we focus on mask-wearing messages during COVID-19 to investigate the effectiveness of selected strategies commonly used by bot-creators to increase the persuasiveness of fake profiles. Our results demonstrate that the most effective strategy to enhance the credibility of a bot is the congruence between the identity of the bot and the user. This effect occurs due to an increase in perceived humanness derived from a closer match between the user’s ideal self-image and the perceived image of the bot, as well as decreased evoked anger. Practical implications for the identification of fake accounts and public education are discussed.
Cooley et al. and Hodson and Doucher show that individuals, individuals within groups, and groups evoke different levels of perceived humanity, and that these differences affect sympathy and willingness to help. In three preregistered experiments, we successfully replicate these findings in a different cultural context (Slovakia). We then test whether manipulating these depictions also affects support for policies that benefit the target. We focus on a disadvantaged ethnic minority (the Roma). Finally, we investigate whether internal (under the beneficiary’s control) versus external attribution (outside of the beneficiary’s control) is a mitigating factor. We confirm individuals and group-compositions evoke higher levels of policy support than groups through increases in perceived humanity. However, this relationship only holds under conditions of external attribution. To humanize disadvantaged groups and bolster policy support, advocates should center their communicative messages around individuals rather than unitary groups and avoid stereotype-enforcing internal attributions.
This article proposes an alternative conceptualization of political tolerance, a new measurement strategy consistent with that conceptualization, and some new findings based upon this measurement strategy. Briefly put, we argue that tolerance presumes a political objection to a group or to an idea, and if such an objection does not arise, neither does the problem of tolerance. Working from this understanding, we argue that previous efforts to measure tolerance have failed because they have asked respondents about groups preselected by the investigators. Those groups selected as points of reference in measuring tolerance have generally been of a leftist persuasion. Our measurement strategy allowed respondents themselves to select a political group to which they were strongly opposed. They were then asked a series of questions testing the extent to which they were prepared to extend procedural claims to these self-selected targets. Using this approach, we found little change between the 1950s and the 1970s in levels of tolerance in the United States, a result that contradicts much recent research on the problem.
Extensive research has established the pivotal role that group-based emotions play in shaping intergroup processes. The underlying implicit assumption in previous work has been that these emotions reflect what the rest of the group feels (i.e., collective emotions). However, one can experience an emotion in the name of her group, which is inconsistent with what the collective feels. The current research investigated this phenomenon of emotional non-conformity. Particularly, we proposed that when a certain emotional reaction is perceived as appropriate, but the collective is perceived as not experiencing this emotion, people would experience stronger levels of group-based emotion, placing their emotional experience farther away from that of the collective. We provided evidence for this process across two different emotions: group-based guilt and group-based anger (studies 1, 2) and across different intergroup contexts (Israeli-Palestinian relations in Israel, and Black-White relations in the United-States). In studies 3 and 4 we demonstrate that this process is moderated by the perceived appropriateness of the collective emotional response. Studies 4 and 5 further provided evidence for the mechanisms underlying this effect, pointing to a process of emotional burden (i.e., feeling responsible for carrying the emotion in the name of the group) and of emotional transfer (i.e., transferring negative feeling one has towards the ingroup, towards the event itself). This work brings to light processes that were yet to be studied regarding the relationship between group members, their perception of their group and the emotional processes that connect them.
This chapter describes research on interpersonal attraction in relation to a philosophy of science in terms of the historical antecedents and current developments. The co relational studies of attraction and similarity of attitudes, opinions, beliefs, and values have essentially involved attempts to determine the validity and to extend the generality of this formulation. With minor variations, these studies involved the identification of pairs of individuals who indicate mutual attraction (spouses, fiances, and sociometrically identified friends), an assessment of these individuals on one or more attitudinal measures, and a statistical determination of the pairs' similarity. Often, this similarity is evaluated not only in terms of departure from a theoretical base line of chance pairings but also by comparison with the similarity of random pairs or mutually antagonistic pairs from the same population. The study of attitude similarity between pairs of friends has fed to results parallel to those involving married couples. Misunderstandings and confusions about research goals and research methods in personality and social psychology occur frequently. There are several issues involved when research interest moves from “real-life” studies closely tied to naturalistic observations into laboratory research in which some variables are manipulated and others controlled. A possible research paradigm for the study of attitude similarity–dissimilarity and attraction has been discussed. The chapter also mentions the generality of the similarity–attraction relationship and theory of attraction as reinforcement model.
Two studies investigated the effects of the presentation of stereotype-inconsistent information on stereotype change. The implications of three cognitive models of schema change—the “bookkeeping,” “conversion,” and “subtyping” models (Weber & Crocker, 1983)—were considered. Experiment 1 varied the pattern of stereotype-inconsistent information (concentrated in a few group members, dispersed across many, or intermediate between the two) to compare versions of these models. Trait ratings showed the greatest stereotype change when the stereotype-inconsistent information was dispersed across group members. Typicality measures showed the slight disconfirmers of the dispersed condition to be considered more typical of the group than the strong disconfirmers of the concentrated condition. This was emphasised by a sorting task: in the concentrated condition, the stereotype-disconfirmers were more strongly isolated from the rest of the group than in the dispersed conditions. Multiple regression analyses revealed that only the perceived typicality of disconfirmers mediated stereotype change. Experiment 2 replicated the main findings using microcomputer presentation and also varied the order of stereotypic trait ratings and typicality judgments. Again trait ratings showed the greatest stereotype change in the dispersed condition and reading times were longer for disconfirmers than confirmers, but only in the dispersed condition. Overall, these studies give strong support to a prototype version of the subtyping model.
This chapter begins with a re-presentation of Allport's classic hypothesis and shows—with reference to recent cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys— laboratory experiments, and meta-analysis, that many of his original propositions have capably withstood the test of time. It examines Brewer and Miller's, and Gaertner and Dovidio's attempts to extend the contact hypothesis, in both of which categorization processes play a key role. This approach sets the stage for the model, first published in 1986 by Hewstone and Brown. In that model, emphasis was given on identifying the conditions that would allow the generalization of attitudes and behavior change beyond the specific context in which the contact occurs. The chapter discusses the developments of contact theory that occurred in the 1980s and reviews the empirical research instigated by the Hewstone–Brown model. It also reviews the progress to date and attempts a theoretical integration of these models in the light of the large volume of research that they have stimulated.
Countless theoretical texts have been written regarding the centrality of hatred as a force that motivates intergroup conflicts. However, surprisingly, at present, almost no empirical study has been conducted either on the nature and character of group-based hatred or on its implications for conflicts. Therefore, the goal of the current work has been to examine the nature of group-based hatred in conflicts. Three studies were conducted within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The first was a qualitative study, which aimed at creating a preliminary platform for investigation of specific features of group-based hatred. Studies 2 and 3 used various scenarios and survey methods to indicate the appraisal and the behavioral aspects of group-based hatred and to distill them from those of other negative emotions, such as anger or fear. In general, results show that hatred is a distinct emotion that includes a unique cognitive-appraisal component and specific emotional goals.