Advantaged groups avoid guilt by denying inequality or dodging responsibility

Evidence

Denying that racial inequality exists is a straightforward way to prevent feelings of group-based guilt. Often, however, members of advantaged groups do recognize racial inequality, and turn to other strategies to avoid feeling guilty about it. For example, they may deny responsibility for inequality, or avoid responsibility for inequality by distancing themselves from the disadvantaged. Both of these strategies may be based in an attempt to preserve a sense of positive group identity. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1844

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Perceiving a group’s wrongdoing as situationally justifiable blocks collective guilt — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 297; Objectively powerful groups claim victim status by merging current and past enemies — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 2146; Demanding too much or too little both suppress dominant-group guilt. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 616 (+13 more)

Broader Connections

• Highly identified group members minimize collective guilt by morally reinterpreting ingroup wrongs #corroborates (0.90) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2278
• Advantaged groups manufacture prejudiced justifications to protect their gains #corroborates (0.85) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1516
• Privileged groups rationalize oppression by claiming the oppressed enjoy advantages #corroborates (0.82) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1972
• Dominant groups defend privilege through bounded ideological justifications #corroborates (0.80)
• Framing attachment around ideals rather than current traits raises group-based guilt. #expands (0.72) — Sonia Roccas and Yechiel Klar and Ido Liviatan, The Paradox of Group-Based Guilt, 128