scholarly journals Lay theories of peace and their influence on policy preference during violent conflict

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (31) ◽  
pp. 18378-18384
Author(s):  
Oded Adomi Leshem ◽  
Eran Halperin

We often talk about peace as if the concept is self-explanatory. Yet people can have various theories about what peace “is.” In this study, we examine the lay theories of peace of citizens embroiled in a prolonged ethnonational conflict. We show that lay theories of peace 1) depend on whether one belongs to the high-power or low-power party and 2) explain citizens’ fundamental approaches to conflict resolution. Specifically, we explore the link between power asymmetry, lay theories of peace, and preference for conflict resolution strategies within large-scale samples of Palestinian residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and Jewish residents of Israel. Results reveal that members of the high-power group (in this case Jewish-Israelis) are more likely to associate peace with harmonious relationships (termed “positive peace”) than with the attainment of justice (termed “structural peace”), while members of the low-power group (in this case Palestinians) exhibit an opposite pattern. Yet both groups firmly and equally interpret peace as the termination of war and bloodshed (termed “negative peace”). Importantly, across societies, associating peace with negative peace more than with positive or structural peace predicts citizens’ desire for a solution that entails the partition of land (the Two-State Solution) whereas associating peace with structural or positive peace more than with negative peace predicts citizens’ desire to solve the conflict by sharing the land (the One-State Solution). This study demonstrates the theoretical and policy-relevant utility of studying how those most affected by war understand the concept of peace.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawan Charafeddine ◽  
Benoit Triniol ◽  
Mathilde Ogier ◽  
Alexandre Foncelle ◽  
Justine Epinat ◽  
...  

Very early on, children understand the hierarchical dimension of the social environment and use a variety of cues to guess who has more power in an interaction. A crucial aspect of power perception lies in the evaluation of high-power and low-power individuals. The current study examined the evaluation of power by preschoolers through social influence. Past research has shown that preschoolers take social category information into account when expressing their preferences. In particular, they tend align their preferences with those of same-gender and same-age individuals. In the current study, 4- and 5-year-old children were presented with a power interaction between two children through body postures and were asked whether they would prefer the same items as those preferred by the high-power child or those preferred by the low-power child. Overall, the participants did not choose the items preferred by the high-power child significantly more often than those preferred by the low-power child. However, unexpected gender effects were found and indicated that the power asymmetry influenced more male than female participants. Indeed, when they saw a power interaction between two boys (Experiments 1 and 2), male participants aligned their choices with those of the high-power boy more than with those of the low-power boy. However, when male participants saw an interaction between two girls (Experiment 3), an opposite pattern was observed: they aligned their choices with those of the low-power girl more than with those of the high-power girl. In contrast, in the three experiments, there were approximately as many girls who aligned their preferences with those of the high-power child as there were girls who aligned their preferences with those of the low-power child. The current study reveals the importance of taking gender into account, both at the level of participants and stimuli, in the evaluation of power by preschoolers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 794-807
Author(s):  
Inna Ksenofontov ◽  
Julia C. Becker

Giving thanks has multiple psychological benefits. However, within intergroup contexts, thankful responses from low-power to high-power group members could solidify the power hierarchy. The other-oriented nature of grateful expressions could mask power differences and discourage low-power group members from advocating for their ingroup interests. In five studies ( N = 825), we examine the novel idea of a potentially harmful side of “thanks,” using correlational and experimental designs and a follow-up. Across different contexts, expressing thanks to a high-power group member who transgressed and then helped undermined low-power group members’ protest intentions and actual protest. Thus, the expression of thanks can pacify members of low-power groups. We offer insights into the underlying process by showing that forgiveness of the high-power benefactor and system justification mediate this effect. Our findings provide evidence for a problematic side of gratitude within intergroup relations. We discuss social implications.


1980 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Breaugh ◽  
Richard J. Klimoski ◽  
Mitchell B. Shapiro

This laboratory experiment examined the differing effects of anticipating a mediator versus an arbitrator upon the negotiating behavior of group spokesmen who represented actual constituencies. In addition, the reputation (attractiveness) of the third party was also manipulated. It was hypothesized, based upon previous research, that representatives facing high-power third parties (arbitrators) would have more difficulty in negotiations. This, in fact, was found. Representatives facing a third party with arbitration power took more time to reach an agreement, used more bargaining dyads and had more deadlocks than did representatives who faced a low-power third party. Contrary to expectations, no main effect was found for third-party reputation. In concluding, the importance of replicating this study's findings was emphasized.


Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Thomas Mpampoulis ◽  
Spyridon Methenitis ◽  
Constantinos Papadopoulos ◽  
Giorgos Papadimas ◽  
Polyxeni Spiliopoulou ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between vastus lateralis muscle fiber length and fiber type composition in individuals with minimal exposure to systematic resistance/power training. In sixty female physical education students (age: 21.03 ± 2.1 years, body weight: 59.8 ± 9.7 kg, body height: 166.2 ± 6.5 cm), with no experience in systematic training, lean body mass, VL muscle architecture and fiber composition type, countermovement jumping (CMJ) performance, and isometric leg press rate of force development were evaluated. Data were analyzed for all participants, as well as two equally numbered groups assigned according to their maximum countermovement jumping power (High-Power or Low-Power group). Significant but low correlations were found between type II muscle fiber percentage and fascicle length (N = 60, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between type IIa and IIx muscle fiber percentage cross-sectional area (%CSA) and fascicle length (N = 60; r = 0.321, and r = 0.378; respectively, p < 0.05). These correlations were higher for the High-Power group (r = 0.499, and r = 0.522; respectively, p < 0.05), and lower, and nonsignificant, for the Low-Power group. The best predictor of strength/power performance was the lean body mass of the lower extremities (r = 0.389–0.645, p < 0.05). These results suggest that in females with minimal exposure to systematic training, fascicle length may be weakly linked with type II fiber areas, only in females with high-power profiles.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra C. Schmid

Abstract. Power facilitates goal pursuit, but how does power affect the way people respond to conflict between their multiple goals? Our results showed that higher trait power was associated with reduced experience of conflict in scenarios describing multiple goals (Study 1) and between personal goals (Study 2). Moreover, manipulated low power increased individuals’ experience of goal conflict relative to high power and a control condition (Studies 3 and 4), with the consequence that they planned to invest less into the pursuit of their goals in the future. With its focus on multiple goals and individuals’ experiences during goal pursuit rather than objective performance, the present research uses new angles to examine power effects on goal pursuit.


1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (15) ◽  
pp. 1324 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E. Larson ◽  
M.M. Matloubian ◽  
J.J. Brown ◽  
A.S. Brown ◽  
M. Thompson ◽  
...  

1978 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-394
Author(s):  
Russell Hamby

Ambiguous effects of power on attributions of moral responsibility for an accident are interpreted to result from the intervening effects of need for power, which is aroused by the anticipation of exercising power over another. 160 subjects from introductory social psychology classes participated in a questionnaire-type experiment comparing effects of high/low carelessness, severe/minor consequences, and high/low power of the attributor in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. In a follow-up experiment 30 subjects were assigned to conditions of high or low power, and their needs for power and moral attributions were measured. High power seemed to arouse need for power, which was curvilinearly related to moral judgments. Those high and low in need for power attributed more moral responsibility to the perpetrator of an accident than those with moderate levels of need for power. The results suggest complicated models of both moral judgments and experimenter effects related to the level or arousal of motivations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009164712199242
Author(s):  
Beata Zarzycka ◽  
Kamil Tomaka ◽  
Katarzyna Zając ◽  
Klaudia Marek

Ingratiation refers to acts of flattery, typically given by a low-power person to a high-power one, performed to gain acceptance and approval. This study investigates ingratiation in the religious setting, asking whether people feeling high levels of guilt or shame tend to manifest such ingratiating behavior toward God. The study aimed to examine the mediating role of prayer in the relationship between guilt and shame and ingratiation toward God. A total of 148 respondents (80 women and 68 men) participated in the study. The Religious Ingratiation Scale, the Content of Prayer Scale, and the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale were applied to the research. The results showed that feeling guilty increased the tendency to ingratiation toward God. Prayer was the significant mediator in this relationship. People high in guilt tend to flatter God by offering more adoration and fewer repine prayers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Li ◽  
Xiong Zhang ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Xianzhong Sun ◽  
Yanan Xu ◽  
...  

AbstractLithium-ion capacitors are envisaged as promising energy-storage devices to simultaneously achieve a large energy density and high-power output at quick charge and discharge rates. However, the mismatched kinetics between capacitive cathodes and faradaic anodes still hinder their practical application for high-power purposes. To tackle this problem, the electron and ion transport of both electrodes should be substantially improved by targeted structural design and controllable chemical doping. Herein, nitrogen-enriched graphene frameworks are prepared via a large-scale and ultrafast magnesiothermic combustion synthesis using CO2 and melamine as precursors, which exhibit a crosslinked porous structure, abundant functional groups and high electrical conductivity (10524 S m−1). The material essentially delivers upgraded kinetics due to enhanced ion diffusion and electron transport. Excellent capacities of 1361 mA h g−1 and 827 mA h g−1 can be achieved at current densities of 0.1 A g−1 and 3 A g−1, respectively, demonstrating its outstanding lithium storage performance at both low and high rates. Moreover, the lithium-ion capacitor based on these nitrogen-enriched graphene frameworks displays a high energy density of 151 Wh kg−1, and still retains 86 Wh kg−1 even at an ultrahigh power output of 49 kW kg−1. This study reveals an effective pathway to achieve synergistic kinetics in carbon electrode materials for achieving high-power lithium-ion capacitors.


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