SELF-CRITICISM AND RECONCILIATION

With reference to empirical socio-psychological studies conducted by t he author himself (on prejudices in connection with AIDS, inquiries in to attitudes displayed by German and Russian students) and the results of opinion polls on xenophobia, racism and nationalism, the author de monstrates that reconciliation with oneself and others is proportional to the propensity for self-criticism and the ability to recognize and acknowledge personal guilt. Where, by contrast, self-hatred and self- devaluation prevail, the tendency towards projection and hatred of oth ers will also be dominant.