ABSTRACT
Tolerance is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon that could be analyzed on three levels: individual, intergroup relations, and society. A social identity-based approach helps to understand major foundations of tolerance through the analysis of the dynamics of identity-based conflicts. This chapter describes the process of building tolerance in education as a continuum that progresses from incitement to violence and hatred (intense dislike and hatred of an outgroup, justified willingness to fight with or harm outgroup members) to prejudice (an unjustified or incorrect negative attitude toward members of an outgroup based on the membership of the ingroup) to tolerance (an acceptance of the Other — a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one’s own) and then to mutual understanding (including critical analysis of conflict, empathy, compassion, and willingness to cooperate). The chapter proposes an assessment framework based on 14 indicators, including: salience and forms of identity, metacontrast, prototypes, favorable comparison, projection, social boundary, relative deprivation, collective axiology, etc. This assessment framework can serve as a foundation for the development of textbooks and teaching manuals as well as an overall assessment of curricula and education policies.
