Shaming perpetrator groups over moral identity backfires by encouraging self-focus and backlash

Evidence

Not overwhelming the historical perpetrator group with shame is important for two reasons. The first is that feeling overloaded with shame may lead members of historical perpetrator groups to become more selfrather than other-focused (see Iyer et al. 2003). For instance, Steele (2015) argues that liberal White Americans’ support for affirmative action programs often stems from their own need for moral identity, with the effects on the beneficiaries of these programs taking on secondary importance. This self-focus can inhibit open, evidence-based discussions about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences (see Sowell 2004) of such programs, as individuals may become preoccupied with their own moral standing rather than considering the broader social impact. Second, excessive shame can increase the potential for backlash. For example, organizational diversity initiatives, such as diversity awards, training, and mission statements (see the sidebar titled Insights from Reconciliation Research Can Inform DEI Interventions), have been shown to lead White Americans to perceive that Whites are less respected and valued than Blacks, which in turn may prompt complaints about reverse discrimination (Kaiser et al. 2022)—a dynamic reflecting competitive victimhood. — Nurit Shnabel and Johannes Ullrich, Identity Needs in Intergroup Relations, 156

Categorization

• XREF: Directly reinforces the existing synthesis’s asymmetry claim — perpetrator groups need moral-identity affirmation, and overloading them shifts attention away from victims. Also connects to competitive victimhood literature and the DEI-blowback debate. — connects to: Atonement must let perpetrator groups retain a positive moral identity — Nurit Shnabel and Johannes Ullrich, Identity Needs in Intergroup Relations:…, 155; Perceived threat to the group’s moral image triggers moral disengagement strategies and ranks closing. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2136; Public shaming campaigns may backfire by evoking shame instead of guilt — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 371
• ADDENDUM: Supports the sacrifice/immodesty moral-panic frame: moral condemnation of a group produces identity-driven backlash rather than reform, echoing how sumptuary moralizing hardened class identities.

Related

• Atonement must let perpetrator groups retain a positive moral identity (similarity 0.85)
• Both perpetrator- and victim-group members engage in competitive victimhood when accused (similarity 0.82)
• Victim and perpetrator groups pursue agentic versus moral identity restoration respectively. (similarity 0.80)
• Victim groups seek agentic power while perpetrator groups seek moral reacceptance (similarity 0.80)
• Glorifying one’s own group drives dehumanization of victims and lowered justice demands. (similarity 0.79)
• Empowering victim groups requires honoring resilience and heritage, not reducing identity to victimhood. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Public shaming campaigns may backfire by evoking shame instead of guilt #corroborates (0.90) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 371
• Perceived threat to the group’s moral image triggers moral disengagement strategies and ranks closing. #complicates (0.75) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2136