Appealing to Moral Exemplars: Shared Perception of Morality as an Essential Ingredient of Intergroup Reconciliation

Abstract

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.

How do we get people into contact? Predictors of intergroup contact and drivers of contact seeking

“…Finally, contact intentions in the aftermath of violent conflicts could be increased through interventions affecting perceptions of outgroup variability and malleability—that is, showing that rather than being uniform entities, groups consist of individuals who differ from one another in terms of relevant characteristics, and that groups do not remain the same over time. For a few years now, work on the development of a new intervention strategy that focuses specifically on increasing awareness of historical moral variability of the perpetrator group has been progressing (Beneda et al., 2018; Bilewicz & Jaworska, 2013; Čehajić‐Clancy & Bilewicz, 2017, 2020; Witkowska et al., 2019). A strategy called “the moral exemplars approach” is based on exposing people to stories of perpetrator group members who acted morally, and in opposition to the majority, during times of intergroup violence.…”

Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans: Approaches, Impacts and Challenges

“…▪ 'Multiperspectivity', which allows for interpretation of the past from various perspectives, and the moral exemplar approach, offer alternative methods for teaching history that are less divisive (Čehajić-Clancy & Bilewicz, 2020;Jeftić, & Joksimović, 2014).…”

“…▪ Contact and relationship-building: 'Instrumental' processes toward reconciliation (or 'instrumental reconciliation') involve the development of positive inter-group interactions with a focus on the present or the future -often through shared activities and cooperation toward common goals (Čehajić-Clancy & Bilewicz, 2020;Garson, 2020). This can allow parties to discover similarities with an individual rather than rely on stereotypes (Garson, 2020).…”

“…▪ Facing the past: 'Socioemotional' processes that address the past aim to find ways of dealing with the emotional consequences created by the history and memory of conflict (Čehajić-Clancy & Bilewicz, 2020). Such processes often aim to challenge beliefs formed during the conflict, such as the dehumanisation of the rival group and glorification of one's own group (see Milatovic-Ovadia, 2016).…”

An integrative framework on the impact of allies: How identity‐based needs influence intergroup solidarity and social movements

“…For this reason, activists from disadvantaged groups have debated whether and how advantaged group members should be involved in social change efforts, for example because of concerns about who gets to speak for the disadvantaged group and define their interests (e.g., Hooks, 1986;Spivak, 1988). Advantaged group allies themselves have discussed challenges in building and sustaining solidarity with disadvantaged group members (e.g., Case, 2012;Drick, 2015). Yet research on the predictors of advantaged and disadvantaged group members' collective action for social change have grown rather separately and have rarely considered both groups' perspectives simultaneously to analyze how they fit (but see Craig, Badaan, & Brown, 2020;Iyer & Ryan, 2009).…”