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The Social Psychology of War and Peace

Linden Nelson

  1. War Has Multiple Causes

  2. Kurt Lewin's Formula B = f (P, E)

  3. Environmental Factors

    1. Instigating Circumstances
      • Oppression and Injustice
      • Threat


    2. Social Influences
      • Obedience to Authority
      • Conformity to Social Norms
      • Persuasion and Control of the Media


  4. Person Factors

    1. Attitudes and Attributions
      • Prejudice, Dehumanization
      • Ethnocentrism, Nationalism
      • Effort Justification
      • Fundamental Attribution Error

    2. Emotions and Motives
      Anger, Power, Pride

  5. A Problem Solving Approach

    Consider Various Alternatives
    1. Positive Incentives
    2. Conciliation - e.g. GRIT (Graduated Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension Reduction)
    3. Negotiation (discussing interests vs. taking positions)
    4. Mediation








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