Collective guilt is constructive only when experienced by the perpetrator, not the victim, group.
Evidence
Another important point to consider is that the same emotion can be either destructive or constructive, depending on whether it is experienced by the victim or perpetrator group. The authors discuss studies showing that when members of the perpetrator group experience guilt, they may be more motivated to repair the damage caused (e.g., Berndsen & McGarty, 2010; Imhoff, Bilewicz & Erb, 2012; Iyer et al., 2003). Yet the specificity of this emotion and reconciliatory effect to this group is not made explicit in the model. Although studies on the experience of collective guilt among victim groups do not exist to our knowledge, one can imagine that the consequences of this emotion in this context would be detrimental. This is supported by research on survivor guilt among Holocaust survivors (e.g., Leys, 2007) as an interpersonal or intragroup process and research showing that guilt among child victims of interpersonal violence is associated with more severe posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (Kletter, Weems, & Garrion, 2009). … Thus, it is crucial to specify in the model which emotion-based interventions are suited for which group, depending on their history, social status, and role in the conflict. — Johanna Ray Vollhardt and Michelle Sinayobye Twali, Emotion-Based Reconciliation Requires…, 64
Categorization
- XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s focus on whether reconciliation mechanisms are structurally asymmetric between dominant and subordinate groups — supports the asymmetry hypothesis. — connects to: The glorification-justice link only operates when one’s own group is the perpetrator. — Bernhard Leidner et al., Ingroup Glorification, Moral…, 55; Collective guilt can occur without any personal responsibility for the harm — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 71; Collective guilt motivates intergroup change only under favorable conditions. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 89 (+6 more)
Broader Connections
- Group members feel guilt by association without personal responsibility for the harm.
#expands(0.83) — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 15 - Collective guilt is felt when the self’s group illegitimately harmed another group
#expands(0.82) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 0 - Guilt can be felt for one’s group’s moral violations without personal responsibility
#expands(0.80) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 146 - Collective guilt can occur without any personal responsibility for the harm
#expands(0.78) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 71 - Collective guilt requires admitting in-group responsibility and spurs reparations
#corroborates(0.76) — Emanuele Castano, On the Perils of Glorifying the In-group, 65 - Collective guilt motivates intergroup change only under favorable conditions.
#qualifies(0.74) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 89 - Collective guilt could distract people from confronting personal guilt.
#complicates(0.72) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 146