Perceiving interdependence with a wrongdoer triggers control appraisals that evoke guilt.

Evidence

We hypothesize that people’s perceptions of interdependence among members of their group might influence the extent to which they appraise an event committed by a fellow group member as being self-relevant. However, in contrast to the self-relevance evoked by perceptions of essentiality, we hypothesized that perceptions of interdependence might influence the extent to which people interpreted an event as being controllable. Thus, when a fellow group member commits a wrongdoing, we hypothesize that people (implicitly if not explicitly) ask themselves “did I contribute to this … should I have prevented it … can I do something now to stop this?” and that these appraisals of event control are moderated by the perceived interdependence with the wrongdoer. As discussed earlier, these appraisals of behavioral control should in turn evoke feelings of guilt. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 336

Categorization

• XREF: Relates to the reader’s own glorification-vs-attachment work on identification modes as distinct routes to collective guilt, and to earlier essentiality-vs-interdependence chapters in this book. — connects to: Personal guilt arises from internal attributions for controllable harmful outcomes — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 144; Collective blame toward groups tracks perceived interdependence with wrongdoers, via commission and omission inferences. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 356; Collective guilt follows unrepentant perceived wrongdoing and motivates repair — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 817 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Guilt requires perceived control while shame arises from uncontrollable exposure #corroborates (0.95) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 219
• Collective blame toward groups tracks perceived interdependence with wrongdoers, via commission and omission inferences. #corroborates (0.85) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 356
• Vicarious group responsibility for others’ suffering triggers shame or guilt. #expands (0.75) — Emanuele Castano, On the Perils of Glorifying the In-group, 63
• Collective guilt follows unrepentant perceived wrongdoing and motivates repair #qualifies (0.72) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 817
• Guilt motivates corrective actions while shame triggers defensive reactions to inequality #expands (0.72) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 137