Work

Nuestra culpa: Collective guilt and shame as predictors of reparation for historical wrongdoing.

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Three studies examined the hypothesis that collective guilt and shame have different consequences for reparation. In 2 longitudinal studies, the ingroup was nonindigenous Chileans (Study 1: N = 124/120, lag = 8 weeks; Study 2: N = 247/137, lag = 6 months), and the outgroup was Chile's largest indigenous group, the Mapuche. In both studies, it was found that collective guilt predicted reparation attitudes longitudinally. Collective shame had only cross-sectional associations with reparation and no direct longitudinal effects. In Study 2, collective shame moderated the longitudinal effects of collective guilt such that the effects of guilt were stronger for low-shame respondents. In Study 3 (N = 193 nonindigenous Chileans), the cross-sectional relationships among guilt, shame, and reparation attitudes were replicated. The relationship between shame and reparation attitudes was mediated by a desire to improve the ingroup's reputation.

Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.94.1.75

Authors: Rupert Brown, Roberto González, Hanna Zagefka, Jorge Manzi, Sabina Čehajić

Institutions: University of Sussex, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, University of London, Royal Holloway University of London

Language: English

Topic: Social and Intergroup Psychology

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: British Council