The process of becoming ‘we’ in an intergroup conflict context: How enhancing intergroup moral similarities leads to common‐ingroup identity

Moral exemplars (Imena) play an important part in commemorative practices and reconciliation in post‐genocide Rwanda. Acknowledging the essential role of moral exemplars in reconciliation and intergroup contact in post‐conflict setting, we aimed at examining the effects of exposure to moral‐exemplars on people's attitudes toward reconciliation and identification with superordinate national category in Rwanda. A study of 168 young Rwandans showed that higher awareness of moral exemplars during genocide was related to stronger ingroup ties with other ingroup members and higher centrality of national identification. Strong ingroup ties significantly mediated the effects of moral exemplars awareness on reconciliation attitudes. This shows that ties with other members of common national ingroup, as well as the centrality of superordinate categories could be effective means for reconciliation after genocide.

Section: Three Facets Of Superordinate Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of moral exemplars awareness on common ingroup identification and reconciliation in post‐genocide Rwanda

Atete,

Bilewicz

2023

“…Čehajić‐Clancy and Bilewicz's research adds to a growing body of evidence that moral exemplar interventions steer the way toward intergroup reconciliation (Čehajić‐Clancy & Bilewicz, 2017, 2020, 2021). Moreover, a recent study suggests that using stories of ingroup moral similarities as an integral part can lead toward common‐ingroup identification (Čehajić‐Clancy et al, 2023). This study aims to contribute to this significant compilation of moral exemplar research by looking at the attitudes of program participants toward knowledge, cross‐group friendships, and willingness to take local action, before, during and after taking part in a PEI.…”

Section: The Role Of Moral Exemplar Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies on the role of moral exemplars interventions for conflict resolution and intergroup reconciliation suggest that adequate projections of heroic helpers can enable positive intergroup relations in post‐conflict situations for victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Several studies in the field of social psychology have researched in this direction (Bilewicz & Jaworska, 2013; Čehajić‐Clancy et al, 2023; Čehajić‐Clancy & Bilewicz, 2017, 2020, 2021; Paolini et al, 2014; Stasiuk & Bilewicz, 2013; Stefaniak & Bilewicz, 2016) indicating benefits of using moral exemplars as an approach in post‐conflict contexts. These studies advocate that the use of moral exemplars contribute to an increase in the willingness for reconciliation.…”

Section: The Role Of Moral Exemplar Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a novel social‐psychological strategy, the introduction of moral exemplar interventions intends to alter intergroup judgments by educating people about outgroup members through stories of moral role models. This approach proposes that by presenting narratives about heroic helpers who decided to take moral action that is in contradistinction to the action or inactions of aggression by their ingroup could reinstate damaged intergroup relations (Čehajić‐Clancy et al, 2023; Čehajić‐Clancy & Bilewicz, 2021). There are several ways how to proceed with this method.…”

Section: The Role Of Moral Exemplar Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enabling positive intergroup relations through the utility of moral exemplars among young adults in post‐conflict settings

Opacin

2023

The article explores the role of moral exemplars as an approach to dealing with and learning from the past as part of peacebuilding education initiatives (PEIs) operating in Southeast Europe. To this day, a deeply rooted divide along ethnic lines is present throughout the region, with each ethnic group using separate narratives and educational programs, providing the youth with little space to meet and learn about the past and outgroup members. Civil society increasingly introduces PEIs that target adolescents through experiential learning approaches. Based on 12‐month‐long multi‐sited ethnographic research into four peacebuilding approaches, this article addresses three outcomes connected with the use of the moral exemplars approach in peacebuilding intervention programs. These include (1) a greater desire to learn about the past, outgroup members, and each other in post‐conflict and divided settings, (2) a greater chance to form cross‐group friendships as well as (3) a drive to take concrete steps toward peacebuilding in the participants' local communities.

“…However, it remains unclear whether morality is the most important similarity, as other general similarities might also affect the outcome. Consequently, the authors state that “future research should contrast different forms of intergroup similarities to disentangle which specific social cognitions are indeed fundamental for creating inclusive social identities” (Čehajić‐Clancy et al, 2023, p. 16). Similarly, regarding interventions employing moral exemplar narratives, it remains unclear how different key dimensions of outgroup evaluations are affected by moral exemplar narratives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing a moral exemplar intervention in a non‐conflict context: The effects of moral exemplars on key dimensions of outgroup evaluations

Bojerud,

Younadam,

Čehajić‐Clancy

2023

Self Cite

Moral exemplar interventions have been shown to increase many positive intergroup outcomes, including perceptions of outgroup morality. However, existing research on moral exemplar interventions has only been conducted in post‐conflict contexts. This study investigates the effects of a moral exemplar intervention on outgroup evaluations in a non‐conflict context. By examining the effects on three key dimensions of outgroup evaluations (morality, sociability, and competence) in Sweden, we aim to extend the generalizability of moral exemplar interventions. An online experiment was conducted with self‐identified Swedes (N = 193) to explore the effects of outgroup (Middle Eastern) moral versus neutral exemplars. Results indicate that moral exemplar stories increased perceptions of outgroup morality while not significantly affecting perceived outgroup competence or sociability. These findings support the hypothesis that moral exemplars influence a specific positive dimension of outgroup evaluations, namely perceptions of morality, rather than any positive dimension such as sociability or competence. The present study also gives tentative support for the applicability of moral exemplar interventions in contexts and settings with no recent history of collective violence.