The relationship between collective guilt and two modes of group identification: Ingroup glorification and ingroup attachment


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, Turkey

Approval Date: 2014

Student: ÖZLEM SERAP ÖZKAN

Supervisor: NURAY SAKALLI UĞURLU

Abstract:

The aim of the present study to explore the relationship between collective guilt and two modes of group identification: group glorification and group attachment in terms of “Events o September, 6-7” and I also explore the effect of perspective of message that is used for reporting the events of September 6-7 on this relationship between collective guilt and group identification. People who identify themselves with their group in glorification level tend to reject their ingroups wrongdoings whereas people who identify themselves with their group in attachment level accept their ingroup’s harmful actions and try to find ways to repair them. Therefore, it is hypothesized that there will be a negative correlation between group glorification and collective guilt while the correlation between group attachment and collective guilt will be positive. Also, it is hypothesized that people who read message about the events of September 6-7 from the perpetrator perspective will feel more collective guilt than people who read neutral or victim perspective. Lastly, it is hypothesized that perspective of the message will moderate the relationship between group identification and collective guilt. Results of the study revealed that there is indeed a significant negative relationship between group glorification and collective guilt. However, no significant correlation is found between group attachment and collective guilt. Also, it is found that perspective of the messages does not affect the level of collective guilt. Lastly, the results showed that perspective of messages did not moderate the relationship between two modes of group identification and collective guilt.