Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- PART I INTRODUCTION AND CORE CONCEPTS
- PART II THE ROOTS OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED IN CONTRAST TO PASSIVITY
- PART III HOW CHILDREN BECOME CARING AND HELPFUL RATHER THAN HOSTILE AND AGGRESSIVE
- PART IV THE ORIGINS OF GENOCIDE, MASS KILLING, AND OTHER COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE
- PART V THE AFTERMATH OF MASS VIOLENCE: TRAUMA, HEALING, PREVENTION, AND RECONCILIATION
- PART VI CREATING CARING, MORALLY INCLUSIVE, PEACEFUL SOCIETIES
- 44 Changing Cultures and Society
- 45 Transforming the Bystanders: Altruism, Caring, and Social Responsibility
- 46 Blind versus Constructive Patriotism: Moving from Embeddedness in the Group to Critical Loyalty and Action
- 47 Manifestations of Blind and Constructive Patriotism: Summary of Findings
- 48 The Ideal University in the Real World
- 49 Conclusion: Creating Caring Societies
- Appendix: What Are Your Values and Goals?
- Index
- References
44 - Changing Cultures and Society
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- PART I INTRODUCTION AND CORE CONCEPTS
- PART II THE ROOTS OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED IN CONTRAST TO PASSIVITY
- PART III HOW CHILDREN BECOME CARING AND HELPFUL RATHER THAN HOSTILE AND AGGRESSIVE
- PART IV THE ORIGINS OF GENOCIDE, MASS KILLING, AND OTHER COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE
- PART V THE AFTERMATH OF MASS VIOLENCE: TRAUMA, HEALING, PREVENTION, AND RECONCILIATION
- PART VI CREATING CARING, MORALLY INCLUSIVE, PEACEFUL SOCIETIES
- 44 Changing Cultures and Society
- 45 Transforming the Bystanders: Altruism, Caring, and Social Responsibility
- 46 Blind versus Constructive Patriotism: Moving from Embeddedness in the Group to Critical Loyalty and Action
- 47 Manifestations of Blind and Constructive Patriotism: Summary of Findings
- 48 The Ideal University in the Real World
- 49 Conclusion: Creating Caring Societies
- Appendix: What Are Your Values and Goals?
- Index
- References
Summary
For wide-ranging change in personalities to occur, changes in culture and social institutions are required, and vice versa. Change can be initiated at any point. However, it is essential, when change begins in the personalities and values of groups of individuals, that this be followed by or codified in change in the culture: that is, changes in the functioning of institutions or the creation of new institutions. Such cultural change is required for individual change to be supported and for it to spread to a substantial degree. It is the actions of collectivities, of groups, and of nations that create antagonism or build positive connection and cooperation.
creating systems of positive reciprocity
Frequently, those concerned with peace focus on already existing antagonisms and hostility. For example, relations between the United States and the U.S.S.R. have been characterized by a cycle of negative reciprocity and retaliation for harmful actions, imagined or real (Deutsch, 1983: Osgood, 1962; White, 1984). Proposals for change often focus on halting or reversing the cycle, for example, by unilateral positive acts designed to encourage reciprocation by the other party (Osgood, 1962; White, 1984). The focus of such proposals has usually been arms control and disarmament, with the hope that reciprocal actions can lead to a diminished nuclear threat.
However, research on reciprocity indicates that reactions to another's behavior greatly depend on the intentions attributed to the other (Schopler, 1970; Staub, 1978).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Psychology of Good and EvilWhy Children, Adults, and Groups Help and Harm Others, pp. 483 - 488Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003