Political Violence and Adolescent Out‐group Attitudes and Prosocial Behaviors: Implications for Positive Inter‐group Relations

Abstract

The negative impact of political violence on adolescent adjustment is well-established. Less is known about factors that affect adolescents’ positive outcomes in ethnically-divided societies, especially influences on prosocial behaviors toward the outgroup, which may promote constructive relations. For example, understanding how intergroup experiences and attitudes motivate outgroup helping may foster intergroup cooperation and help to consolidate peace. The current study investigated adolescents’ overall and outgroup prosocial behaviors across two time points in Belfast, Northern Ireland (N = 714 dyads; 49% male; Time 1: M = 14.7, SD = 2.0, years old). Controlling for Time 1 prosocial behaviors, age and gender, multivariate structural equation modeling showed that experience with intergroup sectarian threat predicted fewer outgroup prosocial behaviors at Time 2 at the trend level. On the other hand, greater experience of intragroup nonsectarian threat at Time 1 predicted more overall and outgroup prosocial behaviors at Time 2. Moreover, positive outgroup attitudes strengthened the link between intragroup threat and outgroup prosocial behaviors one year later. Finally, experience with intragroup nonsectarian threat and outgroup prosocial behaviors at Time 1 was related to more positive outgroup attitudes at Time 2. The implications for youth development and intergroup relations in post-accord societies are discussed.

Altruism born of suffering among emerging adults in Northern Ireland

“…Therefore, future research, with multiple points of measurement, is recommended to better understand the links among empathy and helping, particularly toward outgroup members. This approach is recommended as previous research has found positive reciprocal effects in which outgroup helping predict more positive outgroup attitudes over time (Taylor et al, 2014). Third, other research has investigated the 'dark side' of empathy and outgroup helping (Hoffman, 1991;Stürmer and Snyder, 2009; van Leeuwen and Täuber, 2009); while not the focus of the current study, future research should consider such motivations.…”

“…Testing their model in the Ivorian refugee crisis in Liberia, from 2010-2011, they illustrated how the experience of hardship and trauma led to an increase in empathetic concern, resulting in altruistic motivations toward both the ingroup and outgroup. Moreover, research in NI suggests that for youth, largely born after the peace accord, experiencing harm at the hands of the ingroup leads to more prosocial behaviours toward outgroup members overtime (Taylor et al, 2014). Thus, there is also emerging support for ABS in setting of protracted conflict and contested intergroup identities.…”

Intergroup contact and peacebuilding: Promoting youth civic engagement in Northern Ireland

“…That is, research should identify the underlying processes that can encourage youth to become peacemakers, not troublemakers (McEvoy-Levy, 2006;Taylor et al, 2014). Civic engagement is one form of youth peacebuilding potential .…”

The Social Psychology of Intractable Conflicts

“…Under some conditions, the experience of collective victimization can result in altruistic motives Vollhardt 2009, see Vollhardt et al, this volume). For instance, if individuals perceive a common or shared fate with others or can identify with victims of the other group (Stürmer et al 2005), then intergroup helping and prosocial behavior across group lines may occur (Taylor et al 2014). Thus, in settings of protracted conflict, altruism born of suffering may be a key process that can promote efforts toward equitable well-being across group lines.…”

“…Trust and empathy for outgroup members can contribute to reconciliation following confidence-building measures such as reciprocal concessions by political leaders (Kriesberg 2006). These high-level initiatives may also be fostered and reflected through day-to-day helping behaviors or altruism across group lines (Taylor et al 2014). Thus, reconciliation is "a political, social, cultural, and educational process involving all the society institutions and channels of communication" (Bar-Tal 2000, p. 361).…”