HOPE AND CHANGE IN INTRACTABLE CONFLICT: INDUCING CONCILIATORY ATTITUDES THROUGH INTERGROUP EMOTION

Intractable conflicts have extremely harmful consequences for security, property, and well-being. One of the unique characteristics of such conflicts is the perception of irresolvability held by all those involved, and the associated emotion of hopelessness, which dominates the collective narrative. Despite this, relatively little research has investigated the role of hope in changing attitudes in intractable conflicts. This thesis reports a programme of research that systematically investigates the psychology of hope and change in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In particular, I examine the effect that hope has on attitudes for peace, and develop ways in which hope can be experimentally induced within such extreme and violent situations. The results of 9 studies provide evidence that by promoting generalised perceptions of change, hope for peace can be induced. Additionally, results revealed that experiencing hope for peace led to support for conciliatory policies needed for conflict resolution. Further findings suggest that when outgroups express hope for peace, these expressions can, under specific conditions, promote ingroup hope for peace. Overall, this thesis contributes to a greater understanding of the role of hope and change in intractable conflicts, and how hope can be used as a tool for peace-making and reconciliation.