Louk Hagendoorn

Predisposing Factors and Situational Triggers: Exclusionary Reactions to Immigrant Minorities

This paper examines the bases of opposition to immigrant minorities in Western Europe, focusing on The Netherlands. The specific aim of this study is to test the validity of predictions derived from two theories—realistic conflict, which emphasizes considerations of economic well-being, and social identity, which emphasizes considerations of identity based on group membership. The larger aim of this study is to investigate the interplay of predisposing factors and situational triggers in evoking political responses. The analysis is based on a series of three experiments embedded in a public opinion survey carried out in The Netherlands (n=2007) in 1997–98. The experiments, combined with parallel individual-level measures, allow measurement of the comparative impact of both dispositionally based and situationally triggered threats to economic well-being and to national identity at work. The results show, first, that considerations of national identity dominate those of economic advantage in evoking exclusionary reactions to immigrant minorities and, second, that the effect of situational triggers is to mobilize support for exclusionary policies above and beyond the core constituency already predisposed to support them.

Intergroup Biases in Multiple Group Systems: The Perception of Ethnic Hierarchies

Results of social distance research suggest the existence of consensual ethnic hierarchies in social distance in Western societies. The phenomenon comprises an ingroup bias and a pattern of cumulative intergroup biases on which majority and minority groups appear to agree. In this chapter an explanation is sought for this phenomenon. Realistic conflict theory and social identity theory seem to be able to explain certain aspects of it, such as ingroup bias and the ethnic hierarchies of subordinate ethnic groups, but not the ethnic hierarchy of dominant ethnic groups and intergroup consensus. These aspects may be explained by a model about the different functionality of stereotypes for dominant and subordinate ethnic groups. In order to test these explanations, the generality of ingroup bias, the cumulative structure of intergroup bias and the existence of intergroup consensus on the ethnic hierarchy are investigated in different societies.

Forms of racism and the cumulative dimension of ethnic attitudes

In this paper, biological, symbolic, and aversive racism are conceptualized on the basis of their most characteristics components. In a survey of 1,760 Dutch secondary school students, the empirical basis for this for this conceptualization was examined. It is hypothesized that the forms of racism are steps in a single cumulative dimension of ethnic attitudes. This hypothesis is based on Myrdals rank order of discrimination and Blumers idea of the color line. The validity of the forms of racism is tested by relating the steps of the ethnic attitude to intentions regarding discriminatory behavior, stereotyping, and attitudes toward affirmative action

Prejudice and Self-Categorization: The Variable Role of Authoritarianism and In-Group Stereotypes

In two experimental questionnaire studies among ethnic Dutch participants (N= 99 and N= 206), it was found that the factors predicting prejudice depend on the level of self-categorization: personal identity or national identity. In the personal-identity condition, it appeared that individual differences in authoritarianism were related to prejudice toward Turkish migrants living in the Netherlands and toward Germans, but there was no effect of in-group stereotypes. In the national-identity condition, in-group stereotypes appeared to be related to prejudice but not authoritarianism. These results suggest that individual attitudes affect evaluations of out-groups if a personal perspective is activated, whereas a representation of the typical characteristics of in-group members affects the out-group evaluations if a collective perspective is activated. These results are consistent with predictions derived from self-categorization theory and show that self-categorization affects the relative importance of individual and group factors for prejudice.

Ethnic categorization and outgroup exclusion: Cultural values and social stereotypes in the construction of ethnic hierarchies

Abstract In this article three approaches to define and explain negative ethnic attitudes are discussed: the anthropology of cultural misunderstanding, the sociology of how differences in group positions are justified ideologically, and the social psychology of maintaining self‐esteem through intergroup differentiation. The‐ aim is to integrate these approaches into an interdisciplinary model. Social identity theory is used as a frame for this integration. The argument developed is that ingroup values are used for intergroup differentiation and evaluation. This leads to the development of stereotypes. Stereotypes reflect misunderstanding, but also anchor social representations of a hierarchy of group positions (ethnic hierarchy). Depending on the ethnic composition of the larger society, majority and minority groups will differ in their ethnic hierarchies. Discrepancies between ethnic hierarchies will lead to ethnic tension. From the perspective developed, a number of hypotheses is derived about how chang...

Inter-ethnic preferences and ethnic hierarchies in the former Soviet Union

Abstract One-thousand two-hundred and ninety university students from twenty-seven ethnic⧹national groups across six locations in the former Soviet Union (Novopolotsk in Byelorussia, Kharkov in the Ukraine, Moscow and Nizniy Novgorod in Russia, Ufa in the Bashkir Autonomous Republic and Ulan-Ude in the Buryat Autonomous Republic) participated in 1991–1992 in a survey investigating the existence of ingroup preference in inter-ethnic contact, ingroup consensus on an ethnic hierarchy of outgroups and the measure of intergroup consensus on an ethnic hierarchy among the ethnic⧹national groups in each location. Hypotheses about ingroup preference, ethnic hierarchies and consensus were derived from realistic group conflict theory, social identity theory and from the assumption that outgroup preferences reflect considerations of the status effects of intergroup contact. It appeared that the last type of hypothesis could explain most of the results.

Experimenting with a national sample: a Dutch survey of prejudice

The notion that beliefs and attitudes are flexible and often inconsistent has become a commonplace in social and political psychology. Beliefs and attitudes adapt to varying circumstances, issues and argumentative positions. This was the starting point for a Dutch survey on prejudice towards immigrants carried out in 1998. Measures of beliefs and attitudes were constructed in order to capture diverse aspects of prejudice. Some of these measures focused on negative evaluations of the characteristics of immigrant groups, others on the implications of prejudice, such as opinions on the rights and obligations of immigrants. In order to determine the flexibility and variability of prejudice, key aspects of the attitudes were experimentally manipulated, such as the (characteristics of the) target immigrant group, the arguments leading to these attitudes or the external support they received. The results show that prejudice is a variable set of attitudes for which a precise line between subjective bias and realistic concerns about immigrants cannot be easily drawn.

In-Group Favoritism and Self-Esteem: The Role of Identity Level and Trait Valence

The self-esteem hypothesis in intergroup relations is a continuing source of controversy. The present study aims to clarify some of the divergence in findings by means of self-categorization theory and by looking at the positive-negative asymmetry in social discrimination. The focus is on the level of identity (personal as well as national) and in-group favoritism in the positive and negative domain. In an experimental questionnaire study among Dutch participants, personal self-esteem was found to predict in-group favoritism when personal identity was salient, whereas national self-esteem was found to be a predictor when national identity was salient. These effects were found for the negative trait dimension, but not for the positive one. In addition, in-group favoritism on positive traits was seen to lead to a momentary increase of self-esteem, whereas in-group favoritism on negative traits led to decreased momentary self-esteem. These outcomes for self-esteem were found under the condition of national identity salience.

Intergroup relations in states of the former Soviet Union : the perception of Russians

Introduction. Attitudes of Titulars and Russians. Intergroup Dynamics in States of the Former Soviet Union. Factors Affecting the Intergroup Relation of Titulars and Russians. Five New Republics and the Position of Russians. Titular Views of Russians. Russian Views of Titulars. Titular and Russian Attitudes towards Jews and Armenians. Potential Intergroup Conflict in the Five Former Soviet Republics. The Complexity of Intergroup Relations: Conclusions. Appendix: Samples, Variables, Questions, and Analysis. References.

Support for Separatism in Ethnic Republics of the Russian Federation

Abstract This study examines popular support for separatism among Russians and non-Russian titular nationalities (titulars) in 10 ethnic republics of the Russian Federation: Karelia, Komi, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, Adygea, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Sakha-Yakutia and Tuva. A survey was carried out in the urban regions of these republics in 1999 and 2000 in which 5,233 Russians and 4,703 titulars participated. We found that perceived negative inter-group relations significantly contribute to support for separatism among titulars, but reduce support for separatism by Russians. In contrast, indicators of prosperity of the republic and prior separatist elite-activism predict support for separatism among both titulars and Russians.