Perceptions of the social validity of school-based universal screening for wellbeing and psychological health, from students to principals

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Communities as conduits of harm : A social identity analysis of appraisal, coping and justice-seeking in response to historic collective victimization

Social identity approach (SIA) research shows that commu- nity members often work together to support survivors of collective victimization and rectify social injustices. How- ever, complexities arise when community members have been involved in perpetrating these injustices. While many communities are unaware of their role in fostering victimi- zation, others actively deny their role and responsibility to restore justice. We explore these processes by investigating experiences of community violence and collective justice- seeking among Albanian survivors of dictatorial crimes. Sur- vivors (N = 27) were interviewed, and data were analysed using theoretical thematic analysis guided by the SIA. The analysis reveals the diverse ways communities can become harmful ‘Social Curses’. First, communities in their various forms became effective perpetrators of fear and control (e.g., exclusion and/or withholding ingroup privileges) dur- ing the dictatorship because of the close relationship between communities and their members. Second, commu- nities caused harm by refusing to accept responsibility for the crimes, and by undermining attempts at collective action to address injustices. This lack of collective accountability also fosters survivors' feelings of exclusion and undermines their hope for systematic change. Implica- tions for SIA processes relating to health/wellbeing (both Social Cure and Curse) are discussed. We also discuss impli- cations for understanding collective action and victimhood.Peer reviewe

The nation in context: how intergroup relations shape the discursive construction of identity continuity and discontinuity

The perceived collective continuity (PCC) of a national identity serves as a crucial source of stability and self‐esteem for group members. Recent work has explored the consequences of perceived continuity when the meaning of a nation’s past is seen in a negative light, and the challenges this brings for the negotiation of a positive identity in the present, signalling the potential value of perceived discontinuity The current paper extends this literature by examining the role of intergroup relations in the construction of both collective continuities and discontinuities. Through analysing the discursive management of national identity in nine focus groups in a post‐conflict context (Serbia, N = 67), we reveal how the tensions between continuity and discontinuity are embedded within a broader discussion of the nation’s relationship with relevant national outgroups across its history. The findings contribute to theoretical knowledge on the interlinking of national identity and PCC by illustrating the ways in which intergroup relations of the past shape the extent to which continuity is seen as desirable or undesirable. We argue that despite the psychological merits of collective continuity, discontinuity can become attractive and useful when there is limited space to challenge how a nation’s history is remembered and the valence given to the past. The paper concludes by offering an account of how social and political contexts can influence the nature, functions, and valence of PCC within national identities