Strengthened self-esteem and reduced prejudices of teenage participants in a multiethnic Peace Camp

Authors

  • Ulrich Kropiunigg
  • Birgit Pabst

Abstract

Since the Decade “Peace Is In Our Hands" has been proposed by the UNESCO, the occurrence of Peace Camps all over the world is increasing. Yet only few of these were accompanied by research. The objective of our study was to explore a Peace Camp's impact on possible changes of prejudices and social attitudes among and within different ethnic groups. By using questionnaires, an empirical longitudinal survey on social attitudes was conducted at a total of three given times (34 camp participants and 83 controls). The ten-day Peace Camp in Rechberg, Carinthia, 2005 was attended by male and female teenagers from three different countries; in total, four different (ethnic) groups with Austrian, Slovenian, Arab Israeli and Jewish Israeli backgrounds. Strengthening of self-esteem along with a reduction of negative prejudices was the major impact of the Peace Camp. However, the different ethnic groups showed significant distinctions in development. Peace Camps represent a valuable means for peace education. The results from Peace Camps should be reviewed much more than before, so that the findings can be better used for future camps.

Keywords Youth; Peace camp; Peace education; Youth camp; Israel; Palestine; Austria; Slovenia; Prejudice

Author Biographies

Ulrich Kropiunigg

Dr. phil. Ulrich Kropiunigg, a.o. Universitätsprofessor am Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Zentrum für Public Health, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vorstandsmitglied der Österreichischen Stiftung für Weltbevölkerung und Internationale Zusammenarbeit in Wien.

Korrespondenz: Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Severingasse 9, 1090 Wien, Österreich

Birgit Pabst

Dipl. soz. Birgit Pabst, Soziologiestudium an der Universität Leipzig, Mitarbeiterin der Österreichischen Stiftung für Weltbevölkerung und Internationale Zusammenarbeit in Wien

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Published

2007-04-01

How to Cite

Kropiunigg, U., & Pabst, B. (2007). Strengthened self-esteem and reduced prejudices of teenage participants in a multiethnic Peace Camp. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, (2), 63–72. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/124

Issue

No. 2 (2007): Psychotherapie Forum 15/2 (veröffentlicht bei Springer Wien New York)

Section

Original Work

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