The impact of acknowledgement and denial of responsibility for harm on victim groups' perceptions of justice, power, and intergroup attitudes

Abstract

Acknowledgement of responsibility for in‐group harmdoing is considered a precondition for reconciliation. However, we know little about its impact on victim groups. Using a mixed methods approach, in two studies in Bangladesh we examined the role of acknowledgement and denial of responsibility on intergroup outcomes. Study 1 used an open‐ended survey to assess Bangladeshis' perceptions about acknowledgement and denial of responsibility for the mass violence committed by the Pakistani army on Bangladeshis during the 1971 war. Study 2 experimentally examined the effects and the potential mechanisms (emotional reactions, perceived injustice, and relative power) through which acknowledgement and denial of responsibility impact two intergroup outcomes: out‐group animosity and willingness for contact. Both studies demonstrated the importance of anger and perceived injustice as mediators of the effects of acknowledgement and denial of responsibility on intergroup outcomes. We draw implications for theory and for strategies to address past victimization across different contexts of conflict.

Victim and Perpetrator Groups’ Divergent Perspectives on Collective Violence: Implications for Intergroup Relations

“…As we discussed earlier, this is more rare than acknowledging the other dimensions because it poses a greater identity threat to the perpetrator group. In a study examining the context of mass atrocities committed by the Pakistani army against Bangladeshi civilians in the 1971 war, Bangladeshi participants read about the perpetrator group’s (specifically, scholars’ and citizens’) acknowledgment of responsibility for the atrocities, compared to denial of responsibility or a control condition (Iqbal & Bilali, ). Participants in the acknowledgment condition reported less anger and perceived injustice, which mediated the effects on increased willingness for contact with the perpetrator group and reduced animosity.…”

Beyond comparisons: The complexity and context‐dependency of collective victim beliefs

“…And finally, in several contexts of historical genocides and mass atrocities, which are often denied by the perpetrator groups and ignored by third parties, victim groups’ desire for acknowledgment and the psychological effects of acknowledgment versus denial of ingroup victimization have been examined (Hameiri & Nadler, 2017; Iqbal & Bilali, 2017; Vollhardt et al., 2014). However, these studies are comparatively scarce, and perceived acknowledgment is not typically included in studies of collective victim beliefs more generally.…”

Identifying hate speech in societal context: When psychological factors are more important than contents

“…Previous studies have shown this phenomenon of denial of hate speech (Chiang, 2010;Putra, 2016), as well as past wrongdoings (Iqbal & Bilali, 2018). The reasons for denial can vary across cultures.…”

“…In intergroup context, issues around apology are, often, related to past wrongdoings (Iqbal & Bilali, 2018; Putra et al., 2019). Although being rarely found in the first stage in which perpetrators tend to deny any wrongdoing (Leach et al., 2013), expressing an apology constitutes one of the pillars of group reconciliation.…”