When intergroup apology is not enough: Seeking help and reactions to receiving help among members of low status groups

Abstract

Relations between groups are characterized by competition and suspicion. As a consequence, members of low status groups may question the meaning of apologies offered by a high status group, especially under unstable status relations. In two experiments, the present research investigated the role of the intergroup versus interpersonal apology and the potential moderating effect of the stability of intergroup relations on low status group members' (a) help seeking (Study 1) and (b) responses to receiving help (Study 2) from a high status group. Consistent with our hypotheses, when status relations were unstable rather than stable, following a formal intergroup relative to an interpersonal apology by an Israeli official, Israeli‐Arab students sought less dependency‐oriented and more autonomy‐oriented help from an Israeli‐Jewish study coordinator (Study 1) and Jewish‐Ethiopian newcomers reacted more negatively when they read about an Ethiopian‐Jewish student receiving unsolicited dependency‐oriented help from an Israeli‐Jewish college student (Study 2). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Overcoming negative reactions to prosocial intergroup behaviors in post-conflict societies: The power of intergroup apology

“…By contrast, and more relevant to our work, interpersonal apologies, which are provided by a single member of an outgroup, and normative apologies, which are perceived as representing an entire outgroup (i.e., supported by the majority of outgroup members), are usually regarded as more credible apologies and thus more effective in improving intergroup relations (Halabi et al, 2018;Okimoto et al, 2019). Among the reasons why, the first is that interpersonal apologies are more likely to be perceived as genuine than instrumental expressions of personal regret and/or the acknowledgment of the group's suffering (Nadler & Liviatan, 2006).…”

“…Nevertheless, identifying what makes such apologies seem genuine and convincing remains a major intellectual and political challenge (Hornsey et al, 2015). For instance, one type of outgroup apology, the institutional apology, in which political leaders apologize on behalf of their governments and the people they claim to represent, is notorious for appearing to have limited impact (e.g., Halabi et al, 2018). Even if intended to facilitate intergroup reconciliation, institutional apologies are not usually perceived as being genuine and thus rarely manage to foster positive intergroup relations (Halabi et al, 2018;Shnabel, Halabi, & SimanTov-Nachlieli, 2015).…”

“…Therefore, in the present research, we explored whether intergroup apologies reflecting the genuine regret of an outgroup might alter how individuals respond to offers of help in such societies. Specifically, we expected that interpersonal apologies (Halabi, Dovidio, & Nadler, 2018) and normatively supported apologies (Okimoto, Hornsey, & Wenzel, 2019), relative to institutional apologies (e.g., political leaders apologizing on behalf of their nation) and lack of apology, may enable members of victim groups to accept offers of help from outgroups and promote intergroup reconciliation.…”

Social Dominance Orientation Predicts Opposition to Hierarchy-Attenuating Intergroup Apologies

“…Although most intergroup apology research has explored contexts meeting this description (e.g., Barlow et al, 2015; Rotella, Richeson, & McAdams, 2015; Wohl, Matheson, Branscombe, & Anisman, 2013; Zaiser & Giner-Sorolla, 2013), the implications of this underlying hierarchical relationship between groups have been largely ignored (cf. Halabi, Dovidio, & Nadler, 2018; Shnabel, Halabi, & SimanTov-Nachlieli, 2015).…”

Responses to outgroup help: The role of type of help and sense of control

“…Practically, the findings of the present research suggest an important element for interventions designed to improve relations between groups. Because relations between groups are characterized by competition and suspicion (Wildschut & Insko, 2007), individuals are often skeptical even of the genuine intentions and motives of members of other groups, resulting in refusals to accept help or support, which can exacerbate intergroup tensions, conflict, and animosity (Halabi et al., 2018). Affirming potential recipients’ sense of control might thus reduce the likelihood that they will respond negatively to help and other genuine gestures of goodwill from members of another group.…”