Emotional Numbing and Lessons Learned after a Violent Conflict – Experimental Evidence from Ambon, Indonesia. Issue 5 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Werner, Katharina; Lambsdorff, Johann Graf
• Is Part Of: Journal of development studies. Volume 56:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 859
• Page End: 873
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Economic development -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Développement économique -- Périodiques; Histoire économique -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2019.1590550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0388

Abstract

Abstract: The consequences of violent conflict remain puzzling, with some studies suggesting discrimination, others discovering increased prosociality, and others finding evidence for reduced prosociality. We solve this puzzle with results from dictator, ultimatum, and trust games run with Muslim and Christian students in post-conflict Ambon, Indonesia. We find that discrimination is only moderate and that the reaction of prosociality is context-specific. Prosociality is low if we reveal the counterpart's religious or ethnic identity and is high if it is not revealed. Our effects are particularly strong if subjects had been victimised during the conflict. We argue that revealing the identity inhibits the lessons learned from the conflict and brings about emotional numbing because revealed identities remind subjects of the conflict. Such religious and ethnic cues can thus make conflict salient. We infer that avoiding such cues is important for peace reconciliation as well as economic and social development.