Psychology

Between solidarity and betrayal: how differences in societal acknowledgement, group position and expectations inform intergroup relations in the context of collective victimization

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Social psychological research on collective victimization and intergroup relations often focuses on attitudes towards perpetrator groups and a limited range of collective victimization beliefs. Additionally, it is often ahistorical and decontextualized, not differentiating historical from ongoing victimization, or how groups’ present-day power, privilege and differential policies indicating double standards in how oppressed groups are treated affect collective victimization beliefs. Addressing these limitations, this paper reports findings from focus group interviews among four ethnic minority communities in the US (Armenian and Jewish Americans, Burundian and Nepali-Bhutanese refugees), examining how varying temporal distance to collective victimization, different levels of power and privilege and unequal societal recognition shape which intergroup experiences people expressed regarding their group’s victimization. Reflexive thematic analysis identified two overarching groups of seemingly opposite themes: Experiences of Acknowledgement — and/or Denial (three themes) and Intergroup Solidarity/Alliances — and/or Outgroup Vigilance/Betrayal (four themes). These themes revealed the importance of relations with third parties (including other minority groups) and the influence of societal processes including inequalities in power and societal acknowledgement of different minority groups’ collective victimization, which sometimes undermined the potential for solidarity between victimized communities. © The Author(s) 2025

Publication Title

International Journal of Social Psychology

Publication Date

10-2025

Volume

40

Issue

2-3

First Page

722

Last Page

764

ISSN

0213-4748

DOI

10.1177/02134748251349029

Keywords

acknowledgement, betrayal, collective victimization beliefs, denial, solidarity

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS