Shared History Shapes Attitudes Toward Allies and Enemies
Perceived collective continuity affects how we feel about different groups. When we see a group as connected over time, we tend to have more positive feelings towards them. This is especially true for groups we see as neutral or good. But if we see a group as an enemy, feeling like they have a strong connection over time makes us feel more negative towards them. How connected we think a group is also affects how much we see them as a unified entity. This can make us feel less negative towards a group we used to be allies with, but more negative towards a group we used to be enemies with. So, our past interactions with a group and how we see their continuity can shape how we feel about them.