1. Ethnic group conflict 1
Ethnic group conflict
By
Trudy Urbain
Psy350
03/11/2013
Instructor
Krista Bridgman, Ph.D.
University of Phoenix

2. Ethnic group conflict 2
The ethnic groups we will be talking about are Israel and Palestine we will explore how concepts of
conformity are relates two both ethnic groups. Next we will talk about how the relationships between
the two are and what the social perceptions and social perceptions that will need to help resolve some
of these social conflicts between your selected ethnic groups. Cultural conformity, when it comes to
religious heritages is a powerful mediator of social perception. Israeli –Palestinian conflicts are
established in negative social perceptions of their Undefeatable archenemy, the only way is by
reconciling and Lessing the perspectives between the two groups. Israel- Palestinian conflicts are very
well established in negative social perceptions of their undefeatable archenemies. The only way that this
will happen is by reconciling and Lessing the perspectives between the two groups will the reconciliation
be accomplished? Religion is the central base in their conflict. It will also serve as a long bridge between
their differences. Some things can happen such as peace building can greatly change the perception and
promote social interaction when some common ground is established (Byrne, (191).
Cultural Conformity
There are many social influences in which many people change their attitudes and their behavior to
attach to a group or a social norm this is called conformity Shiraeve and Levy(2010,P283). When it
comes to social psychology and explains the human conformity as the need to accommodate the
majority, this will control the consensus, to reduce negative sanctions, this will help to have the
expectations of the other people to gain and have a positive relationship between (Shiraeve & Levy,
2010).
The rational actor theories , is a type of conformity where a rational choice is where people choose
from many different alternatives after determine if it would benefit or have negative consequences will
result from their choices. When it comes to Palestinian Israeli conflict, each one of the groups is

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represented by and behaves according to what is known as their respective religious beliefs, and also
their religious and political conformity is of significant consequences to citizenship in either of the areas
(Hoffman, 2977). Judaism and Islamic cultures, the religious attitudes is much more complex and
religious, and expects you to follow religious norms and hardships. There is a very strict religious
conformity, there is no flexibility in attitudes, and beliefs this all can be woven into the cultural fabric of
the groups. There still are religious and political conflicts that exist between the Muslim and Jewish
religious, many current issues really concern what is known as the extremist groups from either one of
the sides, and they set their own rules of the cultural conformity. One issue is the many differences they
have in religion. Most of the Palestinians are mostly Muslim. A good portion of Israelis are Jewish.
When it comes to Palestinians and Israelis, the religion in both areas has greatly maintained a central
role in changing and shaping the cultures and their lifestyles. (Hoffman, 1977). A religion is a cultural
that will be able to gain or lose from the nations or societies. (Cohen, 1990).
The social perception and cognition
The social perception is a process in which people aim to understand themselves and each other. Social
cognition is a process where people remember, interpret, and use information about the world. Often
people in all cultures will remember experiences to help make decisions. Milieu people with in their
cultures will develop beliefs, attitudes and judgments through the socialization experiences. Social

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perception is what we call Culturally rooted, so people raised in the same environment sees their
experiences in similar ways, when people are exposed to different religions and lifestyles, they are more
likely to have different world views on different issues, what the relationship is between the social
perception and social cognition is best described by explaining ones social perception as it is and it is
also a social cognition. The different views of the Palestinians and the Israelis, can contribute to their
complex world view which also helps support their perspectives. Most of the conflict that is against one
another is because of their respective views of each other. Palestinians do not believe that Israel wants
to reach a peaceful agreement. They believe they still want to have control between the Mediterranean
Sea and the Jordan River.
Looking at things from Israeli perspective they believe that Palestinians plan to destroy Palestine and
are using what is known as a peace related claims as temporary Strategy. There are many different
opinions and interpretations; it is hard to understand the exact demands of both parties. Most of all of
this is about issues which many of the people on both sides do not agree on.
Social perceptions
The religion of both sides is of that of archaic origin, which traces their common religious origin to
Abraham, or Abrahamic spiritual traditions. (Wgbh Education foundation, 2002). Christianity along with
both these religions are similar, all there are monotheistic, and believe in god as the higher power and
sources of moral law. The tall tales of these religions include many of the same characters, histories, and
places, which are all told in different meanings (WGBH educational foundation, 2002). All three religions
are defined by common beliefs but all three have internal differences based mostly on the details of
doctrine and the practice itself.
The communication that is between the Israeli and Palestinian students faculty have been limited to

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just a formal meeting. The personal relationships survived what is known as the vicissitudes of
sometimes shaky events; many members have reacted constructively during a really bad tragedy they
also have visited one another of both illness and celebration. This is to keep a strong bond for the
dialogues. A lot of evidence from the Israeli and Palestinian students and staff has had a good basis for
the religious dialogue. This is all to meet the mediating of the social perception between the two groups.
The lines of communication are based on the religious ideas that are made as part of a resolution
because of both of the sides trying to maintain a presence on the land they cherish.
The younger generation is greatly impacted by all of this as long as the cultural perceptions are instilled
in the younger generations of both groups in conflict the problems will always continue (shanir &
shikaki, 2002). The younger generation children are to young and immature to see or even determining
if they will carry the history, during their later years. All young adults may ponder their limited choice
and investigate the reality of the claims of each side. Unit we can make a change the new perceptions
that are embraced in both groups, they will still have distorted your perceptions of the enemy will
continue to encourage conflict between them.

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Conclusion,
We all have our problems people may be more willing to change their negative attitudes toward other
people and other groups when they acknowledge their own attitudes and beliefs similar to their own.
Byrne (1969). In both of the Abrahamic religions there are many similarities in the religious framework
and customs between Islam and Judaism. The interaction that happens between the Israeli and
Palestinian students and the faculty there is not usually the formal meetings. We all live in a world that
is not perfect. there are no easy solutions for the long –established Palestinian – Israeli conflict changing
the social perception which would go through the mediation of the inter-religions communication this
all can and will show a great deal of change in how an individual on each side see themselves of other
side. This is an old age standoff that has complications which are resulting from instigating such
reconciliations and the complexities of the situations. The social perception has changed overtime to
certain degree has long as we keep teaching are children what we believe in our values the funds will
continue someone needs to take a stand and say enough is enough it is all easier said than done.

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References
Byrne, D. (1961).Interpersonal attraction and attitude similarity. Journal of abnormal and social psychology. 62(3),
713-715.
Shamir, &Shikaki, k (2002). Self-serving perceptions of terrorism among Israelis and Palestinians. Political
psychology, 23(3), 537-557.
Shiraev, E. B. & Levy, D. A. (2010). Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and contemporary applications
(4th Ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn Bacon.
WGBH educational foundation, (2002) Global connection, PBS public broadcasting service, retrieved July, 01,
20011.