Ethnic identity and patriotism as predictors of collective guilt acceptance

Abstract

Collective guilt is a group emotion, developed and shared between group members as a result of dealing with past misdeeds committed by members of own group. Collective guilt is associated with restitution, reparation and forgiveness seeking toward victimised group. This paper will examine relationship between ethnic identity and collective guilt acceptance, so we can determine relationship between different levels of ethnic identification and collective guilt acceptance. Also, it will be examined indirect effect of blind and constructive patriotism on relationship of ethnic identification and collective guilt acceptance. Survey was conducted in the context of existing interpretations of past war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among persons of Serb ethnic group. There is negative relationship between ethnic identity and collective guilt acceptance, indicating that collective guilt is higher for middle identifiers in comparison with low and high identifiers. Blind patriotism has moderate effect between ethnic identity and collective guilt acceptance, with higher level of blind patriotism negative influence of ethnic identity on collective guilt acceptance is stronger. There is indirect effect of constructive patriotism between ethnic identity and collective guilt acceptance with relatively small effect. Given results indicating importance of ethnic identification on developing collective guilt acceptance but only to the certain level which allows dealing with responsibility regarding actions committed by members of own group.