Bridging Social Divides: The Role of Wise Reasoning in Improving Intergroup Relations

Intergroup conflicts spark negativity against opposing groups and fuel social divisions. To improve social cohesion across group differences, effective strategies that help group members deescalate conflict-related hostilities and improve intergroup relations are crucial. Increasing research on psychological wisdom addresses this issue. It offers new actionable insights that will help individuals form more positive attitudes and interactions during intergroup conflicts. In this article, we provide a timely, relevant, and practical review of the role of wise reasoning (WR) in improving intergroup relations. In particular, we draw from recent research to introduce the study ofWR, and then we synthesize emerging empirical evidence to argue that WR helps improve intergroup relations via its effects on promoting cooperation, mitigating affective polarization, and encouraging respectful discourse. Further, we examine the benefits of WR to explore potential psychological mechanisms. Building on the evidence, we conclude with practical recommendations for more effectively improving intergroup relations to ultimately increase collaboration and solidarity across groups. We encourage more future research and interventions to investigate these promising avenues. © 2024 American Psychological Association