Ethnic and Religious Influences on Forgiveness for Mass Atrocities

该项目是研究有助于宽恕大规模暴行的文化、情感和社会因素的初步努力。人类历史上充斥着团体相互犯下大规模暴行的例子，如大屠杀、土耳其人犯下的亚美尼亚种族灭绝和美国的奴隶制。在实际肇事者和受害者死亡后很久，受害者群体的成员几代人都会对犯罪者群体产生负面情绪和不信任。这些消极情绪和不信任可能会阻碍积极的群体间关系，并加剧或增加冲突的可能性。由这笔赠款资助的研究将研究犹太人对大屠杀的宽恕和亚美尼亚人对亚美尼亚种族灭绝的宽恕。使用实验方法，调查人员将探索种族和宗教认同是否以及在多大程度上与宽恕有关，并表达对犯罪者群体(德国人对犹太人，土耳其人对亚美尼亚人)的感情。此外，调查人员将考虑事件发生后时间推移的影响。这项拟议的研究将通过提出关于文化对宽恕和群体间关系的影响的理论，以及加强对一系列对全球个人和群体生活产生直接影响的过程的理解，做出几项重要贡献。

This project represents an initial effort to study the cultural, emotional and social factors that contribute to forgiveness for mass atrocities. Human history is replete with examples of groups committing mass atrocities against each other, such as the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide committed by the Turks, and slavery in the US. Negative emotions and mistrust can be directed at the perpetrator group by members of the victim group for generations long after the actual perpetrators and victims have died. These negative emotions and mistrust can potentially prevent positive intergroup relations and exacerbate or increase the likelihood of conflict. The research supported by this grant will study the forgiveness of Jews for the Holocaust and Armenians for the Armenian genocide. Using experimental methods, the investigators will explore whether and to what extent ethnic and religious identity are associated with forgiveness, and expressed feelings towards the offender groups (Germans for Jews, Turks for Armenians). In addition, the investigators will consider the impact of the passage of time since the event. The proposed research will make several important contributions by advancing theories about cultural influences on forgiveness and intergroup relations, and enhancing understanding of a set of processes that have direct implications for the lives of individuals and groups across the globe.