Do you get us? A multi-experiment, meta-analytic test of the effect of felt understanding in intergroup relations

Abstract

, J-C. (in press). Do you get us? A multi-experiment, meta-analytic test of the effect of felt understanding in intergroup relations.

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

“…Given that a growing body of research on metabeliefs shows that how ingroup members feel outgroup members view them has a role in intergroup relations (Frey & Tropp, 2006; Yzerbyt et al, 2009), how ingroup members believe outgroup members understand them is especially important. Livingstone et al (2020b) maintained that felt understanding has a distinguishing feature that differentiates it from metabeliefs in that it involves meta–meta perspective (Gillespie & Cornish, 2010; Laing et al, 1966). Investigating their claim with a separate target, consistent with attitudinal generalization hypothesis (H1), we found that felt understanding positively predicted intergroup outcomes in CIJ (cohabiting) and COJ (separate).…”

“…According to Livingstone et al (2020b), to the extent that felt understanding concerns “our” perspectives with “their” perspectives, it shares common ground with metaperceptions. However, felt understanding goes beyond this in significant ways because it contains views about how members of another group view one’s own (or the ingroup’s) viewpoints.…”

“…It is also crucial to all of the distinctive features of human sociality, such as sophisticated culture and cooperation (Dunbar, 2003; O’Grady et al, 2015). Therefore, investigating felt understanding provides a significant expansion of metaperception research in intergroup relations by explicitly examining the higher order meta–meta level of perception previously recognized as vital in interpersonal relationships (Livingstone et al, 2020b).…”

“…It varies from felt understanding, however, in that it does not address the ingroup’s own beliefs through the eyes of the outgroup. In fact, Livingstone et al (2020b) have conducted vignette-based multiexperiments with intergroup contexts such as political views (“leave” and “remain” voters in the U.K. “Brexit” referendum) and intergenerational relations. They manipulated felt understanding (understood vs. misunderstood by an outgroup) in six experiments and tested their effects on intergroup orientations and action tendencies.…”

Exploring social tolerance in the light of identity markers within a heterogeneous population: a demographic study in a multi-tribal context

“…These items are designed to gauge people's attitudes and emotions toward a political object or organization [17,18]. From the perspective of intergroup orientation, the feeling thermometer is frequently used not only to estimate the perception of the outgroup, but also the representations of intergroup relations, generally in an environment where intergroup contact is effective [19]. Several studies have found that intergroup contact improves relationships between people from different groups.…”