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FB Kolloq SoSe2025: Sandra Penić

„Emotion norms and their role in conflict transformation”

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Dr. Sandra Penić, Université de Genève, Switzerland
„Emotion norms and their role in conflict transformation”

Social norms play a pivotal role in shaping the conflict dynamics. While much of the existing research has centered on perceptions of others’ beliefs and behaviors, the influence of emotion norms - that is, the perceived prevalence of emotions felt toward the opponent group among one’s group members - on conflict transformation remains underexplored. Yet, given the established influence of group-based emotions on conflict-related attitudes and behaviors, emotion norms may be equally significant. In this talk, I present initial findings from the collaborative Emotion Norms Project, which investigates the relationship between emotion norms, personal emotions, and support for conflict-related policies across thirteen conflict-affected societies (total target N ~13,000). These include seven countries currently experiencing ongoing conflict (Colombia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, and India) and six in a post-conflict phase (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia, Thailand, and Northern Ireland). In addition, drawing on a rolling cross-section survey conducted in Israel - which randomly sampled approximately 60 citizens per day over a six-month period during the ongoing Gaza war (N ~ 11,500) - we investigate how emotion norms change over time and how they are shaped by conflict-related events. Overall, this research highlights the critical role of emotion norms in shaping conflict attitudes and calls for expanding research beyond the predominant focus on personally experienced emotions in conflict resolution.