Motives to (not) forgive deviant group members: A comparison within and between cultures

Abstract

This study examines people's motives to (not) forgive group members who violate an important group norm. More specifically, we attempt to determine what is the primary focus in such a situation (the group, the offender, the relationship, or the self), and whether this depends on how important the group is and on the cultural context (more individualist or more collectivist). Our sample includes Moluccans living in Indonesia (more collectivist) and Moluccans in the Netherlands (more individualist). Participants were asked to evaluate a scenario in which a group member (close or nonclose other) violated an important group norm. We find that Indonesian Moluccans are more likely not to forgive group members who violate a group norm than Dutch Moluccans. This finding suggests that the group is more important to Indonesian Moluccans. Across the two samples, however, participants were more inclined to forgive an ingroup deviant for the benefit of this person or their relationship than for the benefit of the group. Interestingly, self‐focused concerns were more important among Indonesian Moluccans and differences between the samples in the relative importance of the different motives could not be explained by people's self‐definition (i.e., more independent or interdependent). Implications of these findings for the literature on forgiveness and on individualism–collectivism are discussed.

Constraints in the meanings of lay theories of culture in a culturally homogeneous society: A mixed-methods study on multiculturalism and polyculturalism in Wonosobo, Indonesia

“…As regards the understanding of intercultural experiences in the specific context of Wonosobo, further research could also take Indonesian values (Huwaë & Schaafsma, 2018;Mashuri, Zaduqisti, & Alroy-Thiberge, 2017), and particularly Javanese values (e.g., Kurniati, Worthington, Poerwandari, Ginanjar, & Dwiwardani, 2017) that might play roles in mediating intergroup conflict and relations among cultural groups. Aside from the broad socialization related to Pancasila, it would also be useful to probe the socialization in families, as the parents' personal constructions of culture and intercultural experiences are likely to also have a profound influence on their children.…”