Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Volume 49, Issue 6, 2018, Pages 945-958
Multiculturalism and Attitudes Toward Immigrants: The Impact of Perceived Cultural Distance (Article)
Mahfud Y.* ,
Badea C. ,
Verkuyten M. ,
Reynolds K.
-
a
University of Paris Nanterre, France
-
b
University of Paris Nanterre, France
-
c
Utrecht University, Netherlands
-
d
Australian National UniversityACT, Australia
Abstract
Multiculturalism can be construed in different ways with different effects on majority members’ attitudes toward immigrant-origin groups. Thinking about why the broad goals of multiculturalism are important for society might reduce feelings of outgroup threat and less prejudicial attitudes. In contrast, thinking about how exactly these goals can be accomplished might evoke feelings of threat that lead to prejudice. The aim of this experimental research conducted in France and the Netherlands was to examine the effect of these two construals of multiculturalism of attitudes toward immigrants and whether these effects depend on perceived cultural distance. The findings show that a focus on why multiculturalism is important for society is more beneficial for attitudes toward immigrant-origin groups for people perceiving relatively high cultural distance. In contrast, a focus on how the goals of multiculturalism can be accomplished has a more detrimental effect on attitudes for people perceiving relatively low cultural distance. © 2017, The Author(s).
Author Keywords
Index Keywords
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041920926&doi=10.1177%2f0022022117730828&partnerID=40&md5=2ea72d0900b46d6ee14014438e83a0db
DOI: 10.1177/0022022117730828
ISSN: 00220221
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English