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Broad perspectives : philosophical and psychological theory, evolution, and overview of social psychological research -- Social psychology of helping relations : when, who, why help-giving -- From help giving to helping relations : consequences of giving and receiving help -- Intergroup helping relations -- Concluding comments.

Considers whether nations are justified in violating sovereignty by intervening in other nations' affairs to protect persecuted minorities. A short presentation of social psychological research in altruism & pro-social behavior, highlighting why, when, & who to help, demonstrates its salience for the tension between sovereignty & international responsibility. Social psychological research on Gentiles who intervened to protect Jews from the Nazis depicts circumstances where social responsibility overrode other considerations. This research delivers three conclusions: (1) Intervention to help another person reflects a cost-benefit analysis, with costs & benefits impacted by (2) empathy & (3) perceived similarity to the victim. Two methodological traditions are at play: an experimental line of inquiry seeking causal relationships & qualitative inquiry looking to define those psychological processes that direct behavior. The implications of these traditions of social psychological research for comprehending the contention between respecting sovereignty & the requirement to intercede are addressed. J. Zendejas

For the most part, groups and nations have blamed competition for scarce and coveted resources as an important source of conflict, claiming that resolution depends on mutual agreement concerning how to divide these resources. The present volume focuses on the removal of psychological barriers (e.g., lack of trust, feelings of victimization, perceived lack of power) as a way to end conflict. Social psychology is uniquely equipped, both theoretically and methodologically, to deal with this challenge.

Previous theories concerning the "Big Two" dimensions have focused on people's perceptions and judgments of various social targets. The research presented in this article extends current theorizing by shedding light on how the targets of these judgments respond, in terms of motivational outcomes, to being perceived as high or low on agency or communion. Using the "needs-based model of reconciliation" we argue that, following transgressions, victimized or disadvantaged individuals or groups experience threats to their agency dimension of identity, whereas the perpetrating or advantaged individuals or groups experience threats to their communion identity dimension. We review empirical evidence suggesting that the experience of these threats leads to enhanced motivation to restore these impaired identity dimensions (i.e., reaffirm the agency or communion of oneself or one's ingroup). We discuss how insights from reconciliation research can enhance our understanding of the Big Two dimensions and vice versa and point to the potential for cross fertilization.

The present study explored the implications of an intergroup perspective on individual difference and situational influences on helping, specifically, outgroup members. In particular, we examined the effects of social dominance orientation (SDO) and group status threat on the amount and kind of help offered by Jewish participants (n = 99) to Arab and Jewish students. Dependent measures were the likelihood of helping outgroup and ingroup members across various situations of need and, when help is given, the likelihood that it would be dependency‐oriented rather than autonomy‐oriented assistance. As expected, higher SDO individuals offered less help to outgroup (Arab) students, particularly when they experienced threat to group status, but not to ingroup members. In addition, higher SDO participants, when they did report that they would help, were more likely to offer dependency‐oriented help to outgroup than to ingroup members. The theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

This text focuses on the removal of psychological barriers (e.g. a lack of trust, feelings of victimisation, perceived lack of power) as a way to end conflict. The book takes the stance that social psychology is uniquely equipped, both theoretically and methodologically, to deal with this challenge

We propose that following a victimization episode, victims experience an enhanced need for power, whereas perpetrators experience an enhanced need for social acceptance. We present the needs‐based model of reconciliation, according to which the reciprocal satisfaction of these needs may lead to improved relations between victims and perpetrators. We then use the model as an organizing framework for reviewing theories and empirical findings within the field of victim/perpetrator dynamics in general and reconciliation in particular. We also examine its applicability to various contexts including interpersonal and intergroup conflicts and conflicts between majority and minority groups within the same society. Finally, we conclude by discussing policy implications drawn from the model.

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