Apologies relieve low identifiers but threaten high identifiers’ group image

Evidence

Our analysis also suggests that apologies may serve different functions for perpetrators and victims and their effects may depend on level of identification. Apologies for the ingroup’s immoral past may be perceived differently by perpetrator group members who differ in their level of national identification. Specifically, offering apologies may be perceived as an effective strategy for people who are low in national identification. For them, it is an important means of demonstrating that they are willing to confront the negative aspects of their group. However, high identifiers may construe apologies as the first step toward financial claims and, perhaps more importantly, suffer from the threat to the ingroup’s image that such apologies imply. As a consequence, it is likely that offering apologies may lift the burden for low identifiers, but may intensify negative affective reactions among high identifiers. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 736

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Group apologies create shared ground for discussing negative history — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1111; Group identification can both enable and block feelings of group-based guilt — Sonia Roccas and Yechiel Klar and Ido Liviatan, The Paradox of Group-Based Guilt: Modes…, 16; Group members’ responses to threats to group image depend on how strongly they identify — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1052 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Strongest ingroup identifiers are least likely to feel collective guilt #corroborates (0.90) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1170
• Group members’ responses to threats to group image depend on how strongly they identify #expands (0.88) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1052
• Group identification can both enable and block feelings of group-based guilt #expands (0.82) — Sonia Roccas and Yechiel Klar and Ido Liviatan, The Paradox of Group-Based Guilt, 16
• Guilt differences between high and low identifiers emerge only on ambiguous history #qualifies (0.75) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 695
• Group apologies create shared ground for discussing negative history #qualifies (0.72) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1111