Emotions in Conflict: Correlates of Fear and Hope in the Israeli-Jewish Society

Source: Emotions in Conflict: Correlates of Fear and Hope in the Israeli-Jewish Society (PDF File)

An academic psychological study by Eran Halperin, Daniel Bar-Tal, Rafi Nets-Zehngut, and Erga Drori

Abstract:
This study explores the relations between collective memory, delegitimization of the rival, and personal experiences, on the one hand, and personal and collective fear and hope, on the other hand, in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict. A questionnaire was administered to 217 Israeli-Jewish undergraduates
from three academic institutions in Israel. The dependent variables were levels of fear and hope on a personal and collective level, whereas the independent variables were collective memory of the Jewish past, delegitimization of Arabs,and the personal experiences of contact with Arabs, military service in the
occupied territories, close relationships to a terror victim, and family relationships with Holocaust survivors. Results show that (a) delegitimization of Arabs has the highest correlations with fear and hope, personally as well as collectively; and (b) the centrality of Jewish collective memory is directly related to levels of collective fear. In addition, we found a combined interaction effect of collective memory and personal contact with Arabs on fear, and of collective memory with political orientation and various elements of life experience on hope. It seems, hence, that the level of centrality of collective memory serves to moderate the influence of conflict-related life experiences on personal and collective fear and hope.
Intractable conflicts are prevalent worldwide, and in all of them emotions play an important role (Bar-Tal, 2007b). Some of these emotions fuel the conflict and prevent its peaceful resolution, whereas others are necessary to embark on the road of peace. In the first category, fear is a central emotion, whereas in the other, hope best symbolizes the attempt to change and opt for peace. The study of these emotions, hence, is of major importance in the understanding of the psychological forces that energize conflict and motivate its resolution. 35
Whereas the major thrust of emotion research has been in the individual context (see Roseman, 1984; Scherer, 2004), this study attempts to elucidate some of the antecedents to fear and hope in the situation of conflict both on the individual and on the collective level. Specifically, in this study we explore the influence of a few main variables such as collective memory, delegitimization of the rival, and personal experiences on the evolution of collective and personal fear and hope in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict.