Perceptions of Reincorporation: Attitudes Towards Ex-FARC Combatants in Colombian Society

No Latin American country is as associated with violence in the global imagination as Colombia. The objective of this research is to contribute to the study of the perceptions and attitudes of individuals who are not part of illegal armed groups towards Colombians from the ranks of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) undergoing the process of reincorporation by estimating the degree of positive or negative implicit association, as well as the words, concepts or ideas with which civil society associates individuals undergoing the process of reincorporation. Concerning the chosen methodology, this research applies the Implicit Association Test (IAT). The results show that a reincorporated individual is associated with negative feelings and words, such as corrupt, vindictive and irresponsible. In contrast, a person not linked with illegal groups is associated with positive feelings and words such as innovative. This negative association persists in citizens and entrepreneurs regardless of gender, level of schooling or age. It is recommended that the sample be expanded to other cities and regions of the country. The originality of this article lies in its focus on examining the perceptions and attitudes of individuals who are not part of illegal armed groups towards Colombians undergoing the process of reincorporation from the ranks of the FARC.