Us and Them: Identity and Genocide

Moshman, David

doi:10.1080/15283480701326034

Cited by 45 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In the present research, they externalized responsibility for their bad behaviors, at least in their own minds, which is where it counts for preserving a moral identity. In cases of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other group violence, entire groups maintain their national and moral identities by denying, in a multitude of ways, what they have done [Moshman, 2007]. To the extent that we operate this way, we have false moral identities.…”

Section: Moral Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity, Morality, and Adolescent Development

Moshman¹

2009

Human Development

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Section: Moral Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity, Morality, and Adolescent Development

Moshman¹

2009

Human Development

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“…In this view, the group represents a dark force with negative consequences for social relations. Social categorization via inculcating notions of a shared identity possesses potentially destructive consequences, realized in support for racism [Allport, 1954], ethnocentrism [Tajfel, 1982], and, at the extreme, genocide [Moshman, 2007].…”

Section: The Burden Of Identitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity as Burden or Benefit? Youth, Historical Narrative, and the Legacy of Political Conflict

Hammack¹

2010

Human Development

100

103

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Scholars across a range of disciplines have increasingly argued that the intractability of political conflicts is rooted in the proliferation of competing historical narratives. These collective narratives construct the basis of a sense of shared collective identity. Narrative and identity are thus increasingly conceptualized as fundamental to the maintenance and reproduction of political conflict. In this paper, I explore two underlying conceptions of identity that have emerged in the literature on youth and political conflict. One conception views identity as a burden for youth, suggesting that youth perceive the need to internalize a master narrative of collective identity that provides a sense of security and solidarity in the midst of existential uncertainty. Though psychologically beneficial, this internalization is problematic in the reproductive role it assumes in the larger conflict. An alternative conception views identity as a benefit in its ability to serve as a tool for social and political change, particularly for low-status groups. I review theory and research that adopt these varying conceptions and suggest that identity must be conceptualized as both burden and benefit for youth in conflict settings.

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“…The 'burden' side of things is easy to grasp: Polarized identities are indisputably problematic inasmuch as they serve to perpetuate conflict and violence [see also Moshman, 2007;Sen, 2006]. This explains why intervention programs (often conceived by outsiders, such as American academics or humanitarian organizations) typically aim to transcend mutually polarized identities and promote, instead, the construction of a shared cosmopolitan identity.…”

Section: On the Possibility That Resilience-promoting Meanings May Bementioning

confidence: 99%