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Explaining the Inexplicable: Differences in Attributions for the Holocaust in Germany, Israel, and Poland

Author(s): Imhoff, Roland; Bilewicz, Michał; Hanke, Katja; Kahn, Dennis T.; Henkel-Guembel, Naomi; Halabi, Slieman; Sherman, Tal-Shani; Hirschberger, Gilad

Date: 2017

Topics: Psychology, Surveys, Holocaust, Main Topic: Holocaust and Memorial

Abstract: Seventy years have passed since the Holocaust, but this cataclysmic event continues to reverberate in the present. In this research, we examine attributions about the causes of the Holocaust and the influence of such attributions on intergroup relations. Three representative surveys were conducted among Germans, Poles, and Israeli Jews to examine inter- and intragroup variations in attributions for the Holocaust and how these attributions influence intergroup attitudes. Results indicated that Germans made more external than internal attributions and were especially low in attributing an evil essence to their ancestors. Israelis and Poles mainly endorsed the obedient essence attribution and were lowest on attribution to coercion. These attributions, however, were related to attitudes towards contemporary Germany primarily among Israeli Jews. The more they endorsed situationist explanations, and the less they endorsed the evil essence explanation, the more positive their attitude to Germany. Among Germans, attributions were related to a higher motivation for historical closure, except for the obedience attribution that was related to low desire for closure. Israelis exhibited a low desire for historical closure especially when attribution for evil essence was high. These findings suggest that lay perceptions of history are essential to understanding contemporary intergroup processes.

Zwei Formen des modernen Antisemitismus? Eine Skala zur Messung primären und sekundärenAntisemitismus

Translated Title: Two Forms of Modern Antisemitism? A scale to measure primary and secondary antisemitism

Author(s): Imhoff, Roland

Date: 2010

Topics: Antisemitism, Main Topic: Antisemitism, Surveys, Students, Antisemitism: Attitude Surveys

Abstract: Aufgrund der in der Literatur vorgenommenen Unterscheidung von primärem und sekundärem Antisemitismus wurde eineSkala entwickelt, um diese beiden Facetten zu messen. An einer studentischen Stichprobe (
N
=70) wurden zusätzlich zur Validierungrechtsgerichteter Autoritarismus (RWA), Soziale Dominanzorientierung (SDO), Nationale Identifikation und die Motivation zu vorurteilfrei-em Verhalten als Kovariaten erhoben. Die Skala erwies sich als insgesamt konsistent und zeitlich stabil, die angenommene Zwei-Faktoren-Struktur konnte bestätigt werden. Die Korrelationen mit weiteren Konstrukten sprechen für die Validität. Eine zweite Studie (
N
= 341)bestätigt diese Befunde anhand einer größeren Stichprobe und testet Strukturmodelle der Skala. Trotz der Bestätigung der zweifaktoriellenStruktur zeigt sich eine erstaunlich hohe Korrelation zwischen den beiden Subskalen, so dass die Vermutung nahe liegt, dass primärer undsekundärer Antisemitismus lediglich verschiedene Ausdrucksformen eines einheitlichen zugrundliegenden Konstrukts sind

Ongoing Victim Suffering Increases Prejudice: The Case of Secondary Anti-Semitism

Author(s): Imhoff, Roland; Banse, Rainer

Date: 2009

Topics: Antisemitism, Main Topic: Antisemitism, Psychology, Antisemitism: Attitude Surveys

Abstract: Some people have postulated that the perception of Jews' ongoing suffering from past atrocities can result in an increase in anti-Semitism. This postulated secondary anti-Semitism is compatible with a number of psychological theories, but until now there has been no empirical evidence in support of this notion. The present study provides the first evidence that ongoing suffering evokes an increase in prejudice against the victims. However, this effect became apparent only if respondents felt obliged to respond truthfully because of a bogus pipeline (BPL); without this constraint, the perception of ongoing victim suffering led to a socially desirable reduction in self-reported prejudice. The validity of the BPL manipulation was confirmed by the finding that it moderated the relation between explicit and implicit anti-Semitism, as measured with an affect misattribution procedure.

How to Teach about the Holocaust? Psychological Obstacles in Historical Education in Poland and Germany

Author(s): Bilewicz, Michał; Witkowska, Marta; Stubig, Silviana; Beneda, Marta; Imhoff, Roland

Editor(s): Psaltis, Charis; Carretero, Mario; Čehajić-Clancy, Sabina

Date: 2017

Topics: Conflict Resolution, Dialogue, Inter-Communal Relations, Main Topic: Holocaust and Memorial, Holocaust Education

Abstract: Holocaust education in many countries faces severe obstacles, and the effects of such education are far from desirable. Research on German students found that education about the National Socialist period in Germany did not improve intergroup attitudes. Similarly, a study performed on Polish students in Warsaw showed that the extent of Holocaust education did not affect intergroup attitudes and led to more biased vision of the Holocaust. In both countries current Holocaust education seems to convey simplified entitative information about groups—such that all members of perpetrator group are presented as evil, and all bystanders as righteous. Based on psychological research on moral emotions and psychological needs in reconciliation, we propose another approach to the Holocaust education. We suggest that education about the Holocaust should take into account psychological knowledge about the diversity of human behavior during genocide , including greater understanding of dehumanization , stereotyping , moral exclusion and bystander non-intervention.