Abstract
In this chapter, a set of studies conducted by the authors in post-genocide Rwanda and post-civil war Angola is reported. These studies (a) examine the conceptualizations people living in these countries have regarding reconciliation sentiment, (b) quantitatively assess the relationship between reconciliation sentiment and mental health in a group of victims and in a group of perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda, and, (c) assess the link between forgivingness – the disposition to forgive on a daily basis – and the reconciliation process. They show that the people in Rwanda and Angola have articulated conceptualizations regarding the nature of reconciliation sentiment, and that these conceptualizations are consistent with the way victims personally experience reconciliation. Only one type of reconciliation sentiment, the one corresponding to a renewed capacity to live together, hear each other, work together, and to forge compromises on a daily basis, is associated with mental health. Unconditional forgivingness appears to be a strong promoter of this reconciliation sentiment.
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Mukashema, I., Bugay, A., Mullet, E. (2018). Reconciliation Sentiment, Forgiveness, and Mental Health Among Genocide Victims. In: Demir, M., Sümer, N. (eds) Close Relationships and Happiness across Cultures. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89663-2_11
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