The Structure of Collective Violence Beliefs: Scale Development, Predictors, and Outcomes

This thesis offers a comprehensive examination of collective violence beliefs, its psychological underpinnings, and related behavioural manifestations. Across four empirical chapters, I delve into the multidimensional nature of these beliefs and their implications. Chapter 1 introduces the topic of collective violence by surveying the extensive existing literature, highlighting notable advancements, and identifying the research gap this thesis seeks to bridge. Chapter 2 presents a novel multidimensional scale, the Two-Dimensional Collective Violence Beliefs Scale (CVBS: 2D), developed across multiple contexts in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. This scale shifts from earlier emphases on the intensity of violent acts to the targets of such acts, offering a fresh perspective on understanding beliefs about collective violence. Chapter 3 explores the relationships between two intergroup ideologies, RWA and SDO, and support for these beliefs. Chapter 4 delves into the role of collective narcissism, especially national and sectarian variants, as predictors of collective violence beliefs in Lebanon, highlighting the impacts of different forms of narcissism on collective violence attitudes. Chapter 5, using a U.S. sample, probes the links between attitudes about collective violence and corresponding violent behaviours. Chapter 6 provides a comprehensive discussion on the results, outlining both the theoretical and practical contributions of the study. It delves into the research’s strengths and limitations, offers recommendations for future studies in the field, and examines the findings’ implications within broader contexts. Collectively, this thesis underscores the intricate nature of collective violence and proposes that a nuanced understanding of its beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours can inform and guide interventions in areas experiencing or on the brink of conflict.