Hope in the Middle East: Malleability Beliefs, Hope, and the Willingness to Compromise for Peace.

Cohen-Chen, Smadar; Halperin, Eran; Crisp, Richard J.; Gross, James J.

Abstract

The importance of hope has long been asserted in the field of conflict resolution. However, little is actually known about either how to induce hope or what effects hope has on conciliatory attitudes. In the current research, we tested whether (1) hope is based upon beliefs regarding conflict malleability and (2) hope predicts support for concessions for peace. Study 1, a correlational study conducted among Israeli Jews, revealed that malleability beliefs regarding conflicts in general are associated with hope regarding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as well as with support for concessions. In Study 2, we established causality using an experimental manipulation of beliefs regarding conflicts being malleable (vs. fixed). Findings have both theoretical and practical implications regarding inducing hope in intractable conflicts, thus promoting the attitudes so critical for peacemaking.

Citation

Cohen-Chen, S., Halperin, E., Crisp, R. J., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Hope in the Middle East: Malleability Beliefs, Hope, and the Willingness to Compromise for Peace. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(1), 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613484499

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 22, 2013
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2017
• Journal: Social Psychological and Personality Science
• Print ISSN: 1948-5506
• Electronic ISSN: 1948-5514
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 67-75
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613484499
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1370505