Seminars & Events
SEMINAR: Yasin Koc – Reimagining Intergroup Apologies: A Bottom-Up Approach to Social Cohesion
Abstract: Most research on collective apologies focuses on how victim groups judge the sincerity of an apology and whether an apology promotes forgiveness. For the group responsible for harm, apologising is often seen as a way to restore their moral image, while victims are expected to benefit in some way. However, from the perspective of the transgressor group, an apology can sometimes signal that the process is over, reducing motivation for further reconciliation or action. So far, little is known about how giving an apology affects members of advantaged groups. In three experiments with White Americans (N = 800), we reminded participants of the killing of George Floyd and asked them to apologize to the Black community on behalf of White people. We found that apologising did not reduce feelings of guilt—rather, it increased support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This link was explained by both concerns about how one’s group is seen and a desire to support the harmed group. These effects were especially strong among those who strongly identified with being White. Importantly, apologising had no negative impact on wellbeing, self-esteem, or positive feelings about the ingroup. These findings show that intergroup apologising can strengthen support for social change, without emotional or social costs for those giving the apology.
Bio: Yasin Koc (he, him) is an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at University of Groningen. Grounded in the social identity approach, his research aims to (1) improve the societal standing of minoritised groups and (2) foster positive intergroup relations to promote collective wellbeing across society. His core research interests include privilege acknowledgment, multiple and conflicting social identities, coping with stigma, and the experiences of and responses to emancipation. Yasin employs a multi-method approach, combining experimental designs with qualitative and correlational methodologies to capture the complexity of intergroup dynamics. He leads the Koc Lab (kocsocialidentitieslab.com), a diverse and collaborative research group that actively supports the development of early-career scholars. Recently, he has also been initiating conversations around the mental health impacts of conducting research on disadvantaged groups—especially when the researchers themselves belong to those groups—advocating for more reflexive and supportive academic environments.
________________________________________________________________________________
Meeting ID: 389 427 438 413
Passcode: oUtMWF