WORLDVIEWS AND CONFLICT

Personal and collective ways of understanding and interpreting events/situations contribute to, but are not solely responsible for intergroup conflict, particularly when they override “reality.”

    Personal Beliefs
    Collective Beliefs

5 Dangerous Beliefs

    Both contribute to convictions about group, group identification, and action on behalf of group

    Superiority

        Ethnocentrism
        Chosenness
        Less Obvious Negative Outcomes (unwillingness to compromise)    

    Injustice

        Group Grievances
        Political Persuasion

    Vulnerability

        Catastrophic Expectations
        Pre-emptive Response to Threat
        Less Obvious concerns (assimilation)

    Distrust

        Presumed Hostility and Malign Intent
        Less Obvious Negative Outcomes (lack of cooperation)

    Helplessness

        Low Self-efficacy
        Attributional Style
        Constraints on Organized Action
        Less Obvious Negative Outcomes (self-serving bias)

Integration

    Beliefs Are Not Always Logical or Evidence-based
    Beliefs Limit Consideration of Alternative Meaning
    Collective Beliefs Tend To Be Stronger and More Enduring
    Beliefs May Operate in Tandem, in Contradiction, or Independently
    Divergent Beliefs Do Not Preclude Conflict
    Beliefs Can Facilitate or Inhibit Conflict

DISCUSSION:

➢    If collective beliefs are strong and not always based on evidence, how can they be changed?

➢    What are the pros and cons of censoring and punishing “hate” speech as a way to reduce conflict?