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Collective guilt and pro-social behaviour: Implications for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous reconciliation in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Michelle S. B. Roger
Michelle S. B. Roger*
Affiliation:
Northern Territory University, Darwin
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Abstract

The existence of collective guilt and its influence on pro-social behaviours was investigated in the context of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous reconciliation in Australia. After the presentation of one of three (negative, positive, ambiguous) one-page Australian histories, 80 psychology undergraduates (47 females) from the Northern Territory University, aged from 18-50 years, indicated their level of national identity, perceived in-group variability, feelings of collective guilt, and how participants and the government should compensate Indigenous groups. Participants were also shown an internet petition, a ‘Sorry list’ apologising to Indigenous Australians, to which they could add their name. Perceptions of in-group variability, collective guilt, and out-group compensation were found to be dependent on participants' level of national identity. In order to facilitate reconciliation, the present data indicate psychographic segmentation of the Australian population, in order to tailor specific reconciliation information to these groups.

Type
Short papers
Information
South Pacific Journal of Psychology , Volume 11 , Issue 2: Special Issue: Community Development in North Australia , 1999 , pp. 89 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea and the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Territory University, Australia 1999

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