From Subtle Cues to Profound Influences: The Impact of Changing Identities on Emotions and Behaviors

L ike all wars, the Kosovo conflict was a terrible one. One night, most Belgian TV stations had agreed to join efforts in organizing a telethon in favor of the refugees. As I watched the show, one thing intrigued me. A few years before, media were quick to emphasize that Bosnian “victims” were Muslims. The atrocities inflicted on Kosovars by the Serbs seemed similar, so why did the reports fail to mention religion as a factor possibly contributing to the present conflict? Did this omission influence viewers to fetch their phone and pledge money? Mentioning this hypothesis would likely have donators jump through the roof. If viewers wanted to give money, they would do it no matter what, right? The total amount collected that evening turned out to reach a historic high. I was left with my questions.