z-logo
Premium
Appealing to Moral Exemplars: Shared Perception of Morality as an Essential Ingredient of Intergroup Reconciliation
Author(s) -
ČehajićClancy Sabina,
Bilewicz Michal
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
social issues and policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.798
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1751-2409
pISSN - 1751-2395
DOI - 10.1111/sipr.12067
Subject(s) - morality , socioemotional selectivity theory , forgiveness , social psychology , psychology , ingroups and outgroups , group conflict , feeling , prosocial behavior , sociology , developmental psychology , law , political science
A history of intergroup conflict threatens the basic sense of in‐group and out‐group morality. This poses a severe obstacle to reconciliation both on socioemotional (by constraining forgiveness and generating dysfunctional intergroup emotions) and on instrumental (by constraining contact opportunities and effectiveness) levels. We argue and review research on how learning about others’ moral behavior can contribute to intergroup reconciliation processes. Acknowledging the central role of morality in individual and group perceptions, we propose a new model of reconciliation grounded in research on moral exemplars. Moral exemplars are examples of individual heroic behavior crossing group borders (out‐group members engage in rescuing in‐group members and in‐group members rescuing out‐group members). We demonstrate how intergroup relations in post conflict societies can be improved through learning about moral exemplars. Based on studies and interventions performed in multiple postgenocide and postconflict settings, we suggest that learning about moral exemplars effectively regulates intergroup relations by enabling forgiveness and contact after mass atrocities. We delineate specific policy‐relevant recommendations that may be applied by practitioners working in societies that have been affected by historical crimes.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here