Johanna Ray Vollhardt

Inclusive Altruism Born of Suffering: The Relationship Between Adversity and Prosocial Attitudes and Behavior Toward Disadvantaged Outgroups

This article reports the results of 2 studies examining altruism born of suffering (E. Staub & J. R. Vollhardt, 2008). More specifically, we examined inclusive altruism born of suffering, which is directed toward members of disadvantaged outgroups. Drawing on and integrating clinical and social psychological theories, we hypothesized that individuals who had suffered from adverse life events would be more likely to help the outgroups in need than those who had not suffered. This was demonstrated for helpers who had experienced various forms of suffering (interpersonal and group-based harm, natural disasters) and for 2 distinct types of prosocial behavior and attitudes (long-term volunteering and disaster aid) benefiting outgroups within society and from other countries. We also found that prosocial attitudes toward tsunami victims were highest among those who had suffered in a similar way (from natural disasters). Additionally, we examined the underlying social psychological processes and found that empathy and reduced ingroup bias (but not personal distress) mediated the effect (Study 2). Implications for social justice and an empowering view of victims as potential helpers in society are discussed.

Fighting the Good Fight The Relationship Between Belief in Evil and Support for Violent Policies

The rhetoric of good and evil is prevalent in many areas of society and is often used to garner support for “redemptive violence” (i.e., using violence to rid and save the world from evil). While evil is discussed in psychological literature, beliefs about good and evil have not received adequate empirical attention as predictors of violent versus peaceful intergroup attitudes. In four survey studies, we developed and tested novel measures of belief in evil and endorsement of redemptive violence. Across four different samples, belief in evil predicted greater support for violence and lesser support for nonviolent responses. These effects were, in most cases, mediated by endorsement of redemptive violence. Structural equation modeling suggested that need for cognitive closure predicts belief in evil, and that the effect of belief in evil on support for violence is independent of right-wing authoritarianism, religious fundamentalism, and dangerous world beliefs.

Interpreting rights and duties after mass violence

In our age of human rights, there has been an increased focus not only on the rights of people and collectives harmed through mass atrocities and other injustices, but also on the duty to redress this harm. Building on Passini’s (2011) call for an integration of rights and duties through responsibility, I argue that movements in this direction are already underway. This integration follows, for example, from growing recognition of the complexity in victim and perpetrator roles. Another way in which integration of rights and duties in the aftermath of mass violence has occurred is through alternative meanings of ingroup victimization drawn by victim groups throughout the world. Specifically, based on a sense of inclusive victim consciousness, some have expressed and advocated perceived responsibility to ensure rights for other victim groups as well. This phenomenon is an example of the moral inclusion and focus on responsibility that Passini (2011) argues is necessary in our age of human rights. Examples of moral inclusion among victim groups are reviewed and limitations are discussed, as well as conditions that might inhibit or facilitate a sense of moral responsibility to go beyond individual and ingroup rights and protect others from harm and injustice.

Victims under Siege: Lessons for Polish–Jewish Relations and Beyond

In this chapter, we review Daniel Bar-Tal’s pioneering work on collective victim beliefs and how they influence intractable conflicts and intergroup relations more generally. Bar-Tal’s early work on siege mentality and on societal beliefs related to collective victimhood stimulated research in social and political psychology on this important, understudied topic. We discuss his contributions and review empirical evidence of his postulates as well as more recent conceptualizations of collective victimhood that build on his work. In the second part of this chapter, we discuss collective victimhood in Poland where Bar-Tal grew up. Although Poland is not involved in an intractable conflict, centuries of occupation by surrounding empires and countries contribute to a powerful self-view of Poland as the “Christ of Nations.” We discuss research on the relationship between this victimhood-based identity and anti-Semitism as well as reactions to the role of Poles during the Holocaust. We also discuss some evidence of positive consequences of victim beliefs for the support of refugees in Poland, and end with a discussion of interventions and moral exemplars that may help transform collective victimhood and improve contemporary relations between historically victimized groups—in Poland, Israel, and beyond.

Sozialpsychologische Friedens- und Konfliktforschung

Das folgende Kapitel gibt einen Uberblick uber die sozialpsychologische Friedens- und Konfliktforschung. Es stellt zunachst den Gegenstandsbereich und einige ausgewahlte historische Meilensteile vor. Anschliesend berichtet es uber jungere integrierende Rahmenmodelle auf der Grundlage eher positivistischer Forschung. Es folgen drei konstruktivistische bzw. kritisch-psychologische Ansatze, und zwar diskurspsychologische, gendertheoretische und befreiungspsychologische. Schlieslich geht es in Bezug auf drei beispielhaft ausgewahlte Themenbereiche starker ins Detail: psychologische Aspekte der Unterstutzung von Krieg und militarischen Interventionen, die Konstruktion gewaltfreier Mannlichkeitsvorstellungen im Nachkrieg und radiobasierte Interventionen in Ostafrika. Das Kapitel endet mit einem Ausblick auf mogliche Schwerpunktsetzungen zukunftiger sozialpsychologischer Friedens- und Konfliktforschung.

Der Einfluss des Faktors Geschlecht auf die Filmpräferenz

Die meisten Menschen werden wohl einige Bilder vor Augen haben, wenn sie an das Stichwort „Geschlecht und Film“ denken, etwa: Das Paar, das vor der Kinokasse steht und sich streitet — er will in einen Actionfilm, sie in einen Liebesfilm, der von ihm abfallig als Schnulze bezeichnet wird. Oder eine typische Szene aus amerikanischen Teenagerfilmen: Sie sitzt im Kinosessel mit weit aufgerissenen Augen und angstverzerrtem Gesicht, man sieht ein furchterregendes Ungeheuer auf der Leinwand, was auf einen Horrorfilm hinweist, er sitzt gelassen neben ihr und nutzt die Gelegenheit, ihr schutzend den Arm um die Schulter zu legen. Vermeintlich gibt es Unterschiede, was den Filmgeschmack von Mannern und Frauen betrifft. Bestimmte Filme kann man sofort bei Betrachten des Filmplakats als „Frauenfilm“ einordnen, bei Science Fiction, Action-Filmen oder Thrillern wurde man ein eher mannliches Publikum erwarten.