Transformative psychology #11: Unfreezing conflict narratives

In current research on attempting to alter, abolish, or transform the conventional conflict-supporting narratives that enable nations to continue destructive conflict, an Israeli team of psychologists and conflict resolution researchers are finding some promise in what they refer to as Information Process Model (IPM).  

These interdisciplinary researchers describe their work in unpacking formulation and interruption of conflict-supporting narratives using this intervention method:

Specifically, an IPM-based intervention includes the following four elements: (1) clarifying that conflict-supporting narratives evolve to fulfill the needs of society members involved in intractable conflicts; (2) explaining that these narratives are common among all societies involved in such conflicts; (3) adding that these narratives come with a cost of fueling the conflict and describing the immense costs to society that come with it; and (4) suggesting that there is a benefit to exploring alternative means of fulfilling these needs, as found in other peacefully-resolved conflicts, which may end the cycle of violence and proceed to peacemaking. (Rosler, Wiener-Blotner, Heskiau & Sharvit, 2024, p. 1151).

Selecting other conflict narratives that did transform and seeking components that can be shown as paradigms worth possibly adapting to the protracted conflict experienced by members of the nation involved can lower barriers to acceptance of methods that may hold a promise in lowering the tremendous costs of destructive conflict.

References

Rosler, N., Wiener-Blotner, O., Heskiau Micheles, O., & Sharvit, K. (2024). Understanding Reactions to Informative Process Model Interventions: Ambivalence as a Mechanism of Change. Behavioral Sciences (2076-328X), 14(12), 1152. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/10.3390/bs14121152