Acknowledgement of Ingroup Crimes and Outgroup Suffering Affects Intergroup Reconciliation and Behavioral Intentions: The Role of Moral Emotions

The past century was marked by numerous intergroup conflicts, leaving many societies, such as Rwanda or former Yugoslavian countries, grappling with the legacy of past violence. Likewise, in countries currently involved in conflicts, such as Yemen or Israel and Palestine, addressing the complexity of wrongdoings—both suffered and committed—will become imperative once hostilities cease. Thus, identifying strategies that can help groups confront their past is crucial in the peacebuilding process and achieving social justice. Acknowledging ingroup crimes and outgroup suffering has been recognized as a pivotal step in reconciliation efforts (e.g., Bilali, 2013; Vollhard, 2009). Yet, distinguishing the potentially distinct effects of these similar yet different concepts remain unexplored (Iqbal & Bilali, 2018). We address this gap by examining how acknowledgment of ingroup committing crimes (ingroup focus) versus outgroup suffering from crimes (outgroup focus) influence reconciliation in the aftermath of a conflict. Moreover, we investigated how these two framings of acknowledgement impact reconciliation-related outcomes, such as support for an apology, financial compensation, and forgiveness, as well as behavioural intentions toward former adversaries, such as social distance, willingness to engage in intergroup contact, and intergroup help, crucial outcomes in postconflict societies. Critically, we focused on mechanisms underlying these effects, such as moral emotions, specifically self-conscious emotions (shame and guilt) and other-suffering emotion (empathy), competitive collective victimhood, and the legitimization of ingroup wrongdoings. Finally, we investigate the distinct types of acknowledgment in Albanians and Serbs which represent the two sides of the conflict in Kosovo.

What Activities Were Undertaken?

We conducted two experimental studies* and tested how interpretation of past conflict—framed as either acknowledgment of ingroup crimes or outgroup suffering—affect reconciliation (support for apology, financial compensation, and forgiveness) and behavioral intentions (social distance, willingness to engage, and willingness to help) toward former adversaries, considering both sides of past conflict between Serbs and Albanians. In Albanians (N = 230), reading newspaper articles about both types of acknowledgement, endorsed by their fellow ingroup members, increased support for apology and financial compensation toward Serbs. Acknowledgment of outgroup suffering also enhanced forgiveness, willingness to engage in contact with and to help Serbs. Self conscious moral emotions (shame and guilt) explained the effects of both types of acknowledgment on apology and financial compensation, while empathy the effects of acknowledging outgroup suffering. In Serbs (N = 487), acknowledgment of outgroup suffering increased support for apology, financial reparation, and forgiveness indirectly via moral emotions.

*the second study in Serbia was financed by the Seedcorn grant.

Contribution to the wider research activities

The research on acknowledgment of ingroup crimes and outgroup suffering contributes significantly to the broader field of intergroup reconciliation and peacebuilding by highlighting the nuanced role that moral emotions play in shaping post-conflict attitudes and behaviors. This work provides valuable insights into how different types of acknowledgment—whether focused on ingroup responsibility or outgroup suffering—can foster constructive outcomes such as forgiveness, financial compensation, and willingness to engage in intergroup contact. By investigating these dynamics in the context of the Kosovo conflict, the studies shed light on the psychological mechanisms that influence reconciliation processes in deeply divided societies. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of empathy, guilt, and shame in reconciliation, suggesting that addressing these emotions may be key to healing intergroup divides. This research contributes to the wider field of conflict resolution by offering evidence-based strategies for how societies can confront the painful legacies of their pasts in ways that promote justice, understanding, and peace. Additionally, the comparative focus on both Albanians and Serbs provides a robust understanding of how different groups respond to the acknowledgment of historical wrongs, thereby enriching the broader discourse on intergroup relations and the complexities of post-conflict recovery.

References

Bilali, R. (2013). National narrative and social psychological influences in Turks’ denial of the mass killings of Armenians as genocide. Journal of Social Issues, 69(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12001
Iqbal, Y., & Bilali, R. (2018). The impact of acknowledgement and denial of responsibility for harm on victim groups’ perceptions of justice, power, and intergroup attitudes. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48(4), 397-411. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2338
Vollhardt, J.R. Altruism Born of Suffering and Prosocial Behavior Following Adverse Life Events: A Review and Conceptualization. Soc Just Res 22, 53–97 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-009-0088-1