Inclusive Victim Consciousness in Advocacy, Social Movements, and Intergroup Relations: Promises and Pitfalls

Abstract

While researchers and policy makers often focus their attention on the detrimental consequences of collective victimhood, it has been posited that these negative outcomes are linked to particular construals of the ingroup's victimization: namely those that focus on the uniqueness of these experiences (exclusive victim consciousness). In contrast, perceived similarities across victim groups (inclusive victim consciousness) may be associated with more positive outcomes, including victim groups assisting and advocating for each other or engaging in joint collective action. Drawing on social psychological research and real-world cases, this review provides examples of inclusive victim consciousness in several policyrelevant domains. A distinction is made between conflict-specific and general inclusive victim consciousness. Additionally, motivations for expressing inclusive victim consciousness are discussed that vary in their degree of ingroup-versus outgroup-concern. Factors are suggested that may promote or decrease inclusive victim consciousness, including steps that can be taken by policy makers and practitioners. Finally, potential challenges and risks involved in attempts to promote inclusive victim consciousness are discussed.Members of victimized or disadvantaged groups can be powerful advocates for other victim groups-both within their own society and globally. Numerous examples in different parts of the world and periods of history show how a sense of shared collective victimhood and oppression can mobilize people to advocate on behalf of other groups that are disadvantaged or in need, help garner support for their cause, create powerful alliances that can influence votes and policies,

The two-sided role of inclusive victimhood for intergroup reconciliation: Evidence from Northern Ireland.

“…The other type may represent a selective inclusivity whereby other victim groups are only included conditionally, depending on their similarity in terms of the conflict position and resulting, specific experiences of victimization (e.g., victims of terrorism; victims of occupation). This type of inclusive victimhood may be primarily motivated by a desire for acknowledgement of the ingroup's suffering, and for furthering its cause and legitimacy in order to obtain support (see Bar-Tal et al, 2009;Vollhardt, 2015). Selective inclusive victimhood may play a detrimental role for reconciliation and contribute to the conflict by reinforcing the ingroup's conflict position and contributing to hostility, perceived injustice, and desire for revenge.…”

“…Thus, it is important to measure both general and conflict-specific forms of victimhood (Vollhardt, 2015;Vollhardt & Bilali, 2014). Conflict-specific forms of inclusive victimhood are presumably much rarer and psychologically more challenging than general notions of (selective) inclusive victimhood.…”

“…Even among those who were not personally harmed, a subjective sense of collective victimhood can impede reconciliation (Bar-Tal, Chernyak-Hai, Schori, & Gundar, 2009;Noor, Shnabel, Halabi, & Nadler, 2012). Yet, victimization can also unite members of different groups who perceive their experiences as similar, which can promote positive outgroup attitudes and-when it extends to the other conflict party-reconciliation (Shnabel, Halabi, & Noor, 2013;Vollhardt, 2009Vollhardt, , 2015. Conversely, inclusive victimhood with victim groups worldwide (third parties, unrelated to the ingroup's conflict) might backlash, contributing to united opposition to the other conflict party and impairing reconciliation.…”

“…Vollhardt's (2009Vollhardt's ( , 2015 analysis is more optimistic and suggests how collective victimhood might also contribute to positive intergroup relations. In contrast to "exclusive victim consciousness", which encompasses competitive victimhood and other beliefs regarding the ingroup's unique victimization, "inclusive victim consciousness" entails perceiving similarities between the ingroup's and other groups' victimization.…”

“…This may or may not include the outgroup in a conflict. Thus, one needs to distinguish between conflict-specific inclusive victim consciousness (perceived similarities with the other conflict party) and general inclusive victim consciousness (perceived similarities with victim groups worldwide; Vollhardt, 2015). Inclusive victimhood (of both kinds) can promote more positive intergroup outcomes.…”