Page "Guilt (emotion)" Paragraph 9

Collective guilt ( or group guilt ) is the unpleasant and often emotional reaction that results among a group of individuals when it is perceived that the group illegitimately harmed members of another group.

It is often the result of “ sharing a social identity with others whose actions represent a threat to the positivity of that identity .” Different intergroup inequalities can result in collective guilt, such as receiving unearned benefits and privileges or inflicting more extreme forms of harm on an out-group ( including genocide ).

Individuals are generally motivated to avoid collective guilt in order to maintain a positive social identity.

There are many ways of decreasing collective guilt, such as denying harm or justifying actions.

Collective guilt can also lead to positive outcomes, such as promoting intergroup reconciliation and reducing negative attitudes towards the out-group.