Emotions in Collective Identity: Group-based Emotions, Empathy and Emotion Regulations toward the Past

Resumen

Emotions are considered to be an internal experience in human beings and essential for the construction of collective identities. These identities are often rooted in the social representations of the past shared by the group members. At the group level, theories of group-based emotions and social identity can help us to better understand the social aspects of emotions. At an individual level, psychological processes such as empathy and emotion regulation are fundamental to how people negotiate their emotional links with their past, whether this past displays a glorifying view of the group or an uneasy and troubled view. Both at an individual and group level, these emotional processes are especially relevant for collective identity and for addressing moral dilemmas related to group history. Drawing from socio-cognitive and cultural studies, we analyze these relations between emotions and social representations of the past. Throughout the chapter, we aim to conceptualize key terms, including empathy and emotional regulation, and thus shed light on how social links with the past shape emotional responses. In turn, this knowledge can help us comprehend the critical role that emotions can play in promoting a critical understanding of the past. Finally, we discuss the implications of understanding emotions for civic and history education.