Belief in the Malleability of Groups Strengthens the Tenuous Link Between a Collective Apology and Intergroup Forgiveness

Abstract

Although it is widely assumed that collective apologies for intergroup harms facilitate forgiveness, evidence for a strong link between the two remains elusive. In four studies we tested the proposition that the apology-forgiveness link exists, but only among people who hold an implicit belief that groups can change. In Studies 1 and 2, perceived group malleability (measured and manipulated, respectively) moderated the responses to an apology by Palestinian leadership toward Israelis: Positive responses such as forgiveness increased with greater belief in group malleability. In Study 3, university students who believed in group malleability were more forgiving of a rival university's derogatory comments in the presence (as opposed to the absence) of an apology. In Study 4, perceived perpetrator group remorse mediated the moderating effect of group malleability on the apology-forgiveness link (assessed in the context of a corporate transgression). Implications for collective apologies and movement toward reconciliation are discussed.

If they can’t change, why support change? Implicit theories about groups, social dominance orientation and political identity

“…However, since this experimental manipulation did not affect general or economic political identity, conclusion regarding the causal effect of implicit theories on political identity should be made with caution. Whereas implicit theories about groups previously have been implicated with regards to support for specific policies (e.g., Halperin et al, 2012;Wohl et al, 2015), the current study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between implicit theories about groups and political identity.…”

“…Since implicit theories about groups in essence deal with beliefs about the possibility of change, or malleability, we suggest that such beliefs are an important building block in understanding the psychological underpinnings of political identity. While a number of studies have dealt with the relationship between endorsement of implicit theories about groups and support for specific policies (e.g., Halperin, Crisp, Husnu, Dweck, & Gross, 2012;Wohl et al, 2015), the current study constitutes the first attempt to connect implicit theories about groups with political identity. We hypothesize that the more one endorses entity theories about groups (incremental theories about groups), the more rightist/conservative (leftist/liberal) one's political identification (H1).…”

“…Incremental theories state that human characteristics are susceptible to change and development over time, whereas entity theories state that such characteristics are inherent or fixed. Although the theory about implicit theories was originally developed with regard to the malleability of traits and characteristics of individuals (Dweck, 1999;Levy & Dweck, 1999), it has since also been applied to beliefs in the malleability of groups (e.g., Halperin, Russell, Trzesniewski, Gross, & Dweck, 2011;Rydell, Hugenberg, Ray, & Mackie, 2007;Wohl et al, 2015). Political life is to a large degree preoccupied with intergroup relations, such as relationships between ideological groups (e.g., liberals, conservatives), ethnic/racial groups (e.g., African-American, Caucasians), or economic groups (e.g., working class, middle class, upper class).…”

Emotions in Conflict

“…First, experimental and correlational work by Hornsey (2008, 2011) failed to find a reliable apology-forgiveness link (see also Blatz, Schumann, & Ross, 2009). Second, two sets of studies by Michael Wohl, Hornsey, and Bennett (2012) and Wohl et al (2015) have demonstrated that intergroup apologies would be effective only under very unique circumstances. Specifically, they will be effective only when accompanied by primary emotions and when offered to individuals holding incremental beliefs about groups (Wohl et al, 2015).…”

Suffering need not beget suffering: why we forgive

“…Though initially the link between apology and forgiveness at the intergroup level seemed elusive [32,33], recently researchers have identified that an apology message focusing on the victims (vs. on the perpetrators) may strengthen the link between apology and forgiveness (34). Additionally, an intergroup apology is likely to lead to forgiveness if the victim group holds the implicit view that the perpetrator group has the capacity to change (35,36).…”