Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University

Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution
The Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Notice of Oral Defense of Doctoral Dissertation

Silvia Susnjic

B.A. in Psychology from Lewis-Clark State College
M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia
University

Historical Remembering and Attitudes Towards the "Other": A Cross-generational Inquiry

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Research I, Room 91
George Mason University, Fairfax Campus

Abstract:

What were the causes of the ethnonational group divisions and how are
the Yugoslav conflicts remembered? What is the role of the
interpretation of history in constructing enemy images and shaping
ethnonational attitudes? In what way(s) are historical knowledge and
enemy images transferred? These are some of the questions this study
tries to answer. More specifically, the first aim of this study is to
explore the relationships between historical memories and group
attitudes to determine whether the positive or negative ways of
remembering an event and the groups involved in it will have an
influence on positive and negative attitude development toward such
groups. This study was conducted in Croatia by dividing the country into
conflict affected and conflict averted zones. By conducting a simple
random sample of the two zones, three counties were selected from each
zone. Of the 303 survey instruments distributed in both conflict and non
conflict zones, 210 or 69.3 percent were returned. Out of the 210 survey
participants, 48.6 percent (N=102) came from the non-war affected areas
and 51.4 percent (N=108) from conflict affected areas. About 82.4
(N=159) respondents came from an urban area. The rural area was
represented by 34 respondents or 17.6 percent. Finally, this study
postulates that the more negative memories individuals have about an
event, the more negative their attitudes will be toward the groups
involved in such incidents. Hence, the way we collectively remember a
group will dictate the way we will behave towards the out-group.

Dissertation Committee:

Dennis JD Sandole, Ph.D., ICAR (Chair)
Ho won Jeong, Ph.D., ICAR
Mills T. Kelly, Ph.D., History & Art History, GMU

A copy of this doctoral dissertation is on reserve at the Johnson center library. Another copy is also available for examination in the ICAR resource room. All members of the George Mason Community are invited to attend.