Hameiri et al., 2014: Representing absurd extreme right-wing views of the Israeli-Palestine conflict increased desires for peace among right-wing Israelis over one year
Reference:
Hameiri, B., Porat, R., Bar-Tal, D., Bieler, A., & Halperin, E. (2014). Paradoxical thinking as a new avenue of intervention to promote peace. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(30), 10996-11001.
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Based on theory about paradoxical thinking, which suggests that exposure to views that are extreme, even absurd, but consistent with existing beliefs can cause people to pull back from those views, Israeli Jewish participants were exposed to extreme view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (e.g., “Israelis are peace loving and always reached out for peace”) in a series of videos leading up to the 2013 Israeli election. As compared to a randomized control group, more right-wing participants in the paradoxical thinking intervention expressed more willingness to compromise for peace immediately and up to a year later, and reported having voted for more political parties that supported a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')How?
Psychological Question Addressed
Who do I not want to be, become, or be confused with?Who do I not want to be, become, or be confused with?Psychological Question Addressed
Who do I not want to be, become, or be confused with?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Intergroup relationships
Intervention Technique:
Prompting with information