Trusting the enemy—Towards a comprehensive understanding of trust in intergroup conflict.

Abstract

Intuitively, we have an implicit understanding of trust, yet when trying to describe the concept, it becomes clear that trust is complex and elusive. Although it is widely recognized that a lack of trust propels groups toward conflict and prevents them from reaching a settlement, there is currently no shared understanding of what shapes trust in intergroup conflict. Further, even though scholars widely acknowledge trust's multidimensional nature, there is no shared understanding on which dimensions exactly constitute trust. This work presents 2 qualitative studies detailing a comprehensive set of 7 superordinate dimensions which foster intergroup trust. Through expert interviews, Study 1 finds 20 distinctive, yet related, subthemes and organizes them into 7 superordinate dimensions: competence, integrity, predictability, compassion, compatibility, collaboration, and security. Study 2, a field study of the frozen Transdniestrian conflict, confirms that these 7 dimensions indeed provide a comprehensive set that is able to capture the elusive construct of trust. Thus, this work, the first of its kind, advances our understanding of trust in intergroup conflict by offering a comprehensive breakdown of the trust construct's multidimensional components. It further suggests a possible path for fostering trust and reconciliation.

The long road from cold war to warm peace: Building shared collective memory through trust

“…Trust in the outgroup is based, among other dimensions, on their perceived integrity. Thus, the perception that the others are lacking integrity and not acting in accordance with a moral code undermines any fragile trust between groups (Kappmeier, 2016;Mayer, Davis, & Schoorman, 1995).…”

“…By de-legitimizing the account of the others, groups and their members can avoid strong unpleasant emotions such as guilt and shame when they are forcefully reminded of wrong-doing iii . However, a lack of empathy, manifest by their de-legitimization, is a key driver that undermines trust (Kappmeier, 2016(Kappmeier, , 2017Mayer et al, 1995).…”

“…Everything is important […] That is where you build connections" (Kappmeier, 2008). Creating opportunities for positive interactions can add to the positive expectations of how others react, which strengthens trust through perceived communalities (Kappmeier, 2016).…”

Increasing Cognitive Complexity and Collaboration Across Communities: Being Muslim Being Scottish

“…Recent research identified seven superordinate dimensions, three relating specifically to perception of the outgroup (competence, integrity, predictability) and three to perception of in group and outgroup relations (compassion, compatibility, collaboration) with one further dimension undergirding the others (security). 48 The six dimensions have subthemes while security refers to the perception that the outgroup is not a threat to the physical and psychological safety or identity of the in group. 49 We would argue that security refers not only to the absent of threat, but positive peace that promotes community psychosocial health.…”

Through the Looking Glass: The Role of Ethnicity and Affiliation in Responses to Terrorism in the Media

“…Positive expressions of empathy toward an adversary will have positive effects on reconciliation in the presence of a basic level of trust in the outgroup (Nadler and Liviatan, 2006) whereas distrust and lack of empathy both propel groups into conflict (Kappmeier, 2016) and form a formidable obstacle to reconciliation between two conflict groups (Kelman, 2005). In addition, major events related to conflict such as terrorist attacks, wars, and confrontations frequently provide negative information about the adversary which leads to greater perceptions of threat, radicalization of attitudes and less willingness for reconciliation and peace negotiations (Bar-Tal et al, 2006).…”