While extant theory and research suggest that humiliation plays a central part in prolonging cycles of aggression and violence, especially in the context of identity-based conflicts, there are still many gaps in the literature (Coleman, 2003; Crocker, Hampson & Aall, 2004; Friedman, 2003; Harding & Luchetta, 1999; Lindner, 2002, 2006). In particular, little research has addressed whether different types of humiliating events might provoke different types of responses, such that some responses might characterize helplessness while others might be characterized by prolonged anger and aggression and thus fuel long-term conflict. The present research examined whether reactions to humiliation involving collective-level identity characteristics (such as race, religion and nationality), as compared to personal-level ones, might produce more externally-focused angry and aggressive responses, both in the immediate- and longer-terms.; Two studies examined individuals' reactions to humiliating experiences involving collective- versus personal-level identity characteristics. Study 1 was an experimental on-line scenario study, and Study 2 was an online survey asking participants to recall humiliating experiences from their real lives. The results of both studies showed that individuals humiliated regarding a collective-level identity characteristic were significantly more likely to blame the humiliator or external circumstances for the experience, while individuals humiliated regarding an individual-level characteristic were significantly more likely to blame themselves. Both studies also showed that people who blamed themselves for a humiliating experience were significantly more likely to feel an immediate sense of shame, and Study 1 suggested that they were also significantly more likely to feel both an immediate and prolonged sense of depression in the aftermath of the event.; Results suggest that those humiliated regarding an individual-level identity characteristic experienced a wide range of reactions (including self-blame, immediate and prolonged anger, shame and depression, and, in Study 1, intentions to aggress against the humiliator), while those humiliated regarding a collective-level identity characteristic had a narrower, primarily externally-focused range of reactions (including other-blame, immediate and prolonged anger and, in Study 1, intentions to aggress against the humiliator).
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