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The Impact of Intergroup Emotions on Forgiveness in Northern Ireland

University of Oxford, Tania.tam{at}legalservices.gov.uk

Miles Hewstone

University of Oxford

Ed Cairns

University of Ulster

Nicole Tausch

University of Oxford

Greg Maio

Cardiff University

Jared Kenworthy

University of Texas, Arlington

Although prejudice researchers have mainly focused their attention on changing attitudes toward outgroups, other outcome variables may also be important. In post-conflict reconciliation, intergroup forgiveness may play a crucial role in helping groups in conflict put the atrocities of the past behind them (Cairns, Tam, Hewstone, & Niens, 2005). Two studies showed that both the specific intergroup emotion of anger and infrahumanization (the attribution of more human emotions to the ingroup than to the outgroup) predicted decreased intergroup forgiveness in Northern Ireland. Results further revealed intergroup contact as a potential means of reducing anger toward the outgroup and improving attitudes toward them. This research integrated prior interpersonal theory with intergroup literature to examine the concept of intergroup forgiveness and its predictors. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for reconciliation in conflict societies.

Key Words: forgiveness • infrahumanization • intergroup contact • intergroup emotions

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tam, T. Articles by Kenworthy, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?