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Hope Comes in Many Forms: Out-Group Expressions of Hope Override Low Support and Promote Reconciliation in Conflicts

Cohen-Chen, Smadar; Crisp, Richard J.; Halperin, Eran

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Authors

Smadar Cohen-Chen

Eran Halperin



Abstract

In conflicts, political attitudes are based to some extent on the perception of the out-group as sharing the goal of peace and supporting steps to achieve it. However, intractable conflicts are characterized by inconsistent and negative interactions, which prevent clear messages of out-group support. This problem calls for alternative ways to convey support between groups in conflict. One such method is emotional expressions. The current research tested whether, in the absence of out-group support for peace, observing expressions of out-group hope induces conciliatory attitudes. Results from two experimental studies, conducted within the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, revealed support for this hypothesis. Expressions of Palestinian hope induced acceptance of a peace agreement through Israeli hope and positive perceptions of the proposal when out-group support expressions were low. Findings demonstrate the importance of hope as a means of conveying information within processes of conflict resolution, overriding messages of low out-group support for peace.

Citation

Cohen-Chen, S., Crisp, R. J., & Halperin, E. (2016). Hope Comes in Many Forms: Out-Group Expressions of Hope Override Low Support and Promote Reconciliation in Conflicts. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8(2), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616667612

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Sep 15, 2016
Publication Date Sep 15, 2016
Deposit Date Aug 23, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Social Psychological and Personality Science
Print ISSN 1948-5506
Electronic ISSN 1948-5514
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue 2
Pages 153-161
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616667612

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Copyright Statement
Cohen-Chen, Smadar, Crisp, Richard J. & Halperin, Eran (2017). Hope Comes in Many Forms: Out-Group Expressions of Hope Override Low Support and Promote Reconciliation in Conflicts. Social Psychological and Personality Science 8(2): 153-161. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications





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