Contrast of felt understanding and intergroup relations within and between communities.

Abstract

Felt understanding is linked to intergroup relations. However, almost all of the studies linking felt understanding to intergroup relations have been conducted in a relation where ingroups and outgroups cohabit within a community having a shared superordinate political structure/system (cohabitating target). It is unclear whether this association generaliddzes to another relation that ingroups and outgroups live in separate communities with different superordinate systems (separate target). The present work investigates whether the predictive role of felt understanding in intergroup relations differs across the two targets—Chinese people in Japan (CIJ) and Chinese people outside of Japan (COJ). Data were collected in Japan by two online surveys among 536 Japanese (189 females) in 2021. Multigroup analysis found that felt understanding was linked to positive intergroup outcomes (positive action tendencies, outgroup trust, intergroup orientation) for both cohabiting and separate target conditions. Also, post hoc mediation analysis suggested that the cohabiting/separate target condition was positively related to felt understanding, and higher felt understanding, in turn, results in the outcomes. These results indicate that felt understanding can be beneficial even in intergroup relations not involving a shared superordinate system and that the level (not the effect) of felt understanding may be influenced by cohabiting/separate targets. Implications for consolidating peace in Japan–China relations are discussed, which may be relevant to other international relations.

An experimental study of the process of felt understanding in intergroup relations: Japanese and Chinese relations in Japan

“…This study investigated whether and how felt understanding can shape intergroup relationships. Although there is emerging evidence of the benefits of felt understanding in intergroup relations 1,[9][10][11] , little is known about the processes through which felt understanding has favorable effects. We tested the main hypothesis that felt understanding positively affects intergroup outcomes such as intergroup trust by increasing felt positive regard (Hypothesis 1), intergroup overlap (Hypothesis 2), and outgroup stereotypes (Hypothesis 3).…”

“…These findings were limited to outgroup targets that cohabited with an ingroup in a community with a shared superordinate political structure/system (cohabiting target, e.g., the Chinese in Japan). In contrast, Ioku and Watamura 10 focused on outgroup targets living in separate communities with different superordinate systems (separate targets, e.g., Chinese in mainland China). As with the Chinese in Japan, when the Japanese believed that the Chinese in mainland China understood the Japanese beliefs, they trusted them.…”

Cultural invariance and ideological variance of collective ownership threat in intergroup relations.

“…For example, in a racially homogeneous community that has experienced an influx of immigrants, local residents may have concerns regarding potential displacement from familiar gathering spots and work areas if these spaces become occupied by immigrants. While extensive literature is available on “us–them” beliefs in social psychology (Figueiredo et al, 2010; Ioku & Watamura, 2022; Tajfel et al, 1971), systematic theorizing and research literature on “ours–theirs” perspectives are lacking (Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2017). It is particularly important to understand COT in the context of territoriality, as disputes over territory are often at the center of intergroup conflicts, and there is a lack of empirical studies on the topic (Bagci et al, 2023; Toft, 2014).…”

Cultural invariance and ideological variance of collective ownership threat in intergroup relations

“…While extensive literature is available on "us-them" beliefs in social psychology (Figueiredo et al, 2010;Ioku & Watamura, 2022;Tajfel et al, 1971), systematic theorizing and research literature on "ours-theirs" perspectives are lacking (Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2017). It is particularly important to understand collective ownership threat in the context of territoriality, as disputes over territory are often at the center of intergroup conflicts, and there is a lack of empirical studies on the topic (Bagci et al, 2022;Toft, 2014).…”