Korean Psychological Journal of Culture and Social Issues
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Ingroup’s Apology For Past Wrongdoing Can Increase Outgroup Dehumanization
Abstract
Apologies are used with increasing frequency for mending damaged relations between groups after intergroup conflict. Past research revealed that members of a perpetrator group may engage in (animalistic) dehumanization of victim group members to cope with guilt and responsibility associated with the ingroup’s past wrongdoing. We hypothesized that ingroup’s apology would relieve perpetrator group members of the moral threat, and therefore would make them perceive more humanness in the victim group members. The study was conducted in the context of South Korea’s alleged atrocities against Vietnamese civilians during its military involvement in the Vietnam War. Korean participants read an article on the incidents with Korean government’s issuance of an official apology manipulated, and reported their thoughts on the incidents and perceptions of Vietnamese people including their humanness. Contrary to our prediction, apology further enhanced dehumanization of Vietnamese people, even while it also decreased dehumanization through heightened feelings of relief. This study documents a seemingly ironic effect of intergroup apology, and calls for a more careful examination of the consequences of apology before recommending it as a viable strategy for alleviating intergroup tensions.
- keywords
- apology, dehumanization, mind perception, intergroup relations, intergroup conflict, 사과, 비인간화, 마음 지각, 집단 간 관계, 집단 간 갈등
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