Categorizing at a broader level diffuses responsibility and lowers collective guilt
Evidence
To the extent that responsibility for harmful outcomes is diffused, little collective guilt may be experienced. Marques, Paez, and Sera (1997) describe how referencing the “dark times” when many European nations acted on colonial agendas allowed their Portuguese participants to not feel guilty when they were confronted with the ways their national group had harmed other groups. Just as diffusion across individuals can reduce personal responsibility for the harm experienced by others (Latan´e & Darley, 1968), diffusion of responsibility across groups permits group members to perceive their group as less uniquely responsible for the harm doing. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 2117
Categorization
- XREF: Parallels the bystander-effect diffusion literature and the earlier chapter-15 finding on inclusive categorization lowering guilt. — connects to: Perceiving victims and perpetrators as one human group lowers guilt assignment. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1937; Shifting categorization level changes whether the same person counts as ingroup or outgroup. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1950; Guilt requires self-categorizing as a group member — Torsten Masson and Markus Barth, The identification-guilt paradox…, 20 (+8 more)
Broader Connections
- Strongest ingroup identifiers are least likely to feel collective guilt
#corroborates(0.85) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1170 - Mere categorization into a group triggers differentiation and discrimination
#corroborates(0.85) - Mild group identifiers feel guilty when harm is distant and done by others
#corroborates(0.80) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1069 - Highly identified group members minimize collective guilt by morally reinterpreting ingroup wrongs
#expands(0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2278 - Guilt requires self-categorizing as a group member
#complicates(0.75) — Torsten Masson and Markus Barth, The identification-guilt paradox…, 20 - Framing attachment around ideals rather than current traits raises group-based guilt.
#complicates(0.72) — Sonia Roccas and Yechiel Klar and Ido Liviatan, The Paradox of Group-Based Guilt, 128