Still not one people: Implicit ethnic perception of Tutsis in Rwanda.

Abstract

Since the 2001 official abolishment of ethnic specification in Rwanda, it is prohibited to classify individuals into ethnic groups in the postgenocide country. For the first time to our knowledge, this study compiles objective data on ethnic perception in Rwanda to investigate whether interethnic bias is still prevalent. It is hypothesized that Rwandans who were not persecuted during the genocide still associate Tutsis with privilege and not with victimization, instead of their persecution during the genocide. This hypothesis was tested with a computer-based priming task, in which photos of persons who conformed to stereotypes of Tutsi and Hutu appearance, respectively, were combined with pictures of symbols representing privilege and victimization. Results showed that responsiveness to the Tutsi-privilege combinations was higher compared with the Hutu-privilege combinations. No differences were found in the responsiveness to the Tutsi-and Hutu-victimization combinations. Perception of Tutsis as privileged was independent of readiness to reconcile.

How do peace psychologists address the violent assaults on Black people’s lives? A review of studies published in the Peace and Conflict journal.

“…The researchers of five studies (Bilali, Tropp, & Dasgupta, 2012; Heim, Elbert, Baltes-Götz, & Schaal, 2018; Heim & Schaal, 2015; Kang, Delzell, Mbonyingabo, & Ngendahayo, 2016; and Tropp et al, 2017) went further in committing attention to race/racism than the first group of studies. These researchers explained with greater specificity about racism as a facet of their empirical foci.…”

“…The two studies by Heim and colleagues (Heim et al, 2018; Heim & Schaal, 2015) as well as Kang et al (2016) offered different approaches to their subjects. For example, in the two studies led by Heim, the presentation about the historical and contextual forces that influenced their Rwandan subjects was well-developed and was more intricately woven into the article throughout the introduction, results, and discussions sections.…”

Editorial.

“…Two of the Brief Research Reports included in this issue remind us of various obstacles to be overcome to achieve such "superordinate" categories. Heim, Albert, Baltes-Götz and Schaal (2018) show how divisions persist between Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda, and Guess, Safazanda, Schaffer, Cash, and Bekhor Editor's Note. Continue the conversation by submitting your comments and questions about this article/book review to PeacePsychology.org/peaceconflict.…”

“…The study by de Rivera (2018) is part of a growing literature pointing to ways in which we could strengthen more inclusive human concerns and categories, through which all humans can locate themselves and others as “the ingroup.” Two of the Brief Research Reports included in this issue remind us of various obstacles to be overcome to achieve such “superordinate” categories. Heim, Albert, Baltes-Götz and Schaal (2018) show how divisions persist between Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda, and Guess, Safazanda, Schaffer, Cash, and Bekhor (2018) demonstrate that among a group of German participants the set of psychological factors associated with preferred conflict resolution strategies in the “old” Israeli-Palestinian conflict are different from those preferred in the “new” Russian-Ukranian conflict.…”