Relational identity theory: A systematic approach for transforming the emotional dimension of conflict.

Abstract

Emotions are a vital dimension in conflicts among nation-states and communities affiliated by common ethnic, economic, or political interests. Yet the individuals most responsible for managing such conflicts--heads of state, CEOs, intellectual or religious leaders--are often blind to the psychological forces affecting their interests. During 20 years of international research, consulting, and teaching, I have developed a program for teaching thought leaders how to apply psychological principles to achieve their aims while also reducing negative outcomes such as violence, social upheaval, and economic displacement. In this article, I present relational identity theory (RIT), a theoretical and intellectual framework I have originated to help people understand and deal with key emotional dimensions of conflict management. I argue that national and communal bonds are essentially tribal in nature, and I describe how a tribe's unaddressed relational identity concerns make it susceptible to what I term the tribes effect, a rigidification of its relational identity. I provide strategies based on RIT for mitigating the tribes effect and thus enhancing global security.

Bankers and Functional Psychopathy: The Risk of Losing Everything

“…They are capable of gratitude and forgiveness, but these emotions are often mixed with negative self-referential feelings rarely experienced by more secure people." *** This is in line with Shapiro [2010]'s proposed axes: one for autonomy and the other for affiliation. Dominance and seduction are the two main axes of animal behaviors (see Bowles [2000, p. 870], among others).…”

Facilitating emotional reappraisal in conflict transformation

“…Emotions are an active component of individual and group identity because they help people to make sense of themselves in relation to others and the world in which they live (Bleiker and Hutchinson, 2014; Bodtker & Jameson, ; Gold, ). They play an especially important role in intractable, identity‐based conflicts which are associated with existential needs that trigger powerful feelings when threatened (Bodtker & Jameson, ; Burton, ; Rothman, ; Shapiro, , ). Shapiro (, ) argued that the gap between the current and the desired state of relational identity concerns generates emotions that interfere with creative problem solving.…”

“…They play an especially important role in intractable, identity‐based conflicts which are associated with existential needs that trigger powerful feelings when threatened (Bodtker & Jameson, ; Burton, ; Rothman, ; Shapiro, , ). Shapiro (, ) argued that the gap between the current and the desired state of relational identity concerns generates emotions that interfere with creative problem solving. Closing these gaps can lead to emotions that nurture cooperative behavior and integrative solutions.…”

“…As triggers, emotions are also a sign that very important issues and deeply held values are at stake and need to be addressed (Picard & Siltanen, ). Emotions also influence thinking, feeling, and behavioral dynamics that increase or decrease the willingness and ability of disputants to reach agreement or even to engage in transformation processes (Halperin, ; Halperin et al, ; Jameson et al, 2009; Shapiro, ). Finally, attending to the underlying emotions of both parties to a conflict can increase the likelihood of conflict transformation by improving communication and mutual understanding (Jameson et al, 2009).…”

“…This “emotional turn” (Gold, , p. 114) or “new passion for emotion” (Baele, Sterck, & Meur, , p. 720) in international relations and conflict studies reflects a stepping away from a purely rational actor model that separated emotion from cognition and viewed the former as irrelevant or a hindrance (Lindner, ; Nair, ). Today emotions are seen as an integral part of cognitive processes and research has shown that their effect on conflict transformation can be positive or negative depending on how they are handled (Baele et al, ; Bar‐Tal, 2001; Behrendt & Ben‐Ari, 2012; Bodtker & Jameson, ; Halperin, ; Halperin, Pliskin, Saguy, Liberman, & Gross, ; Halperin, Russell, Dweck, & Gross, ; Jones, ; Maiese, ; Picard & Siltanen, ; Retzingel & Scheff, , Shapiro, , ).…”