Healing societies: The impact of social context on intergroup reconciliation

Introduction

The recent increase in intergroup conflicts emphasizes the importance of finding ways to reconcile members of adversary groups. Subsequently, social psychologists have developed evidence-based reconciliation interventions aimed at improving intergroup attitudes and behaviors towards outgroups. Even though intervention effectiveness and outcomes depend on the context in which people live, most empirical research on reconciliation interventions has ignored the impact of the social context.

Objectives

The overarching aim of this proposal is to systematically examine the influence of theoretically crucial and pre-existing contextual features on the effectiveness, processes, and durability of reconciliation interventions:

1. Degree of conflict and perceived threat
2. Degree of integration vs. segregation within communities in which people live
3. Ethnic majorities vs. minorities
4. Social norms on outgroup treatment

Project Structure

The project consists of four sequential work packages:

WP1 and WP2

In WP1 and WP2, I will conduct large-scale longitudinal (online) studies in four European countries affected by conflict. These studies will test and compare the effectiveness, processes, and durability of:

• Established reconciliation interventions (WP1)
• Context-adapted reconciliation interventions (WP2)

These interventions will focus on intergroup attitudes and real-life behaviors of ethnic majorities and minorities living in different social contexts.

WP3

In WP3, using field experiments, the most effective and context-adapted reconciliation interventions will be incorporated into participants’ real life through intergroup contact and multimedia.

WP4

After establishing the impact of the social context in realistic settings and using heterogeneous representative samples, in WP4, I will develop and empirically evaluate the first theoretical framework for intergroup reconciliation.

Conclusion

This project will identify effective reconciliation interventions that fit a variety of social contexts and thus provide concrete and effective tools for peace-building agents.