Despite Our Different Social Identities, We Can Live Together in the Same Dormitory Room: Intergroup Empathy

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the extent to which students with different social identity categories (Turkish/Kurdish) staying in the same university dormitory room empathized with each other. The study was designed as qualitative study. The research was conducted by means of face to face interviews with the students. In-depth face to face interviews were held and qualitative data were collected. A standardized interview technique was used to collect data in the study. In the analysis of qualitative data, data reduction, data display and conclusion steps were followed consecutively. It was found that students with Turkish/Kurdish social identities generally understood each other's points of view, but often did not understand each other's worldviews. When the emotions and behaviors of students with Turkish/Kurdish social identities when they saw a friend from the other social identity who was in trouble, wronged or sad were examined, remarkable results were achieved. Students usually expressed their feelings in parallel to the feelings of their friends from the other social identity, such as feeling troubled, sad, disturbed, angered and empathetic. Similarly, when describing their behaviors, students pointed out behaviors such as psychological support, helping, establishing dialogue, defending the wronged party and sharing the concerns of the students with the other social identity.

Keywords

• crossgroup friendships
• intergroup contact
• intergroup empathy