Comprehensive Results in Social Psychology
Volume 2, Issue 2-3, 2017, Pages 166-198

Glorifying national identification increases schadenfreude about asylum seekers when they are a threat, not entitled to seek asylum, and blamed for their adversity (Article)

Berndsen M.* , Thomas E.F. , McGarty C. , Bliuc A.-M. , Hendres D.M.
  • a School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
  • b School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth/School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
  • c School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
  • d School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
  • e School of Psychology, ‘A.I. Cuza’ University, Iasi, Romania

Abstract

The purpose of the current research is to explore how mode of identification (glorification versus attachment) results in either schadenfreude “with a bad conscience” (S-BC) about disadvantaged people, or prosocial emotional responses (sympathy and guilt) towards them through appraisals of entitlement, realistic threat, and blame. These relationships were investigated amongst Australians (N = 213) and Romanians (N = 210) in relation to the treatment of asylum seekers in detention centres in those two countries. Consistent with hypotheses, Australian glorifying identifiers considered asylum seekers to be a threat to well-being and to not be entitled to seek asylum. Asylum seekers were therefore blamed for their situation in detention centres and this enhanced group-based S-BC. Very different findings were observed for attached identifiers who expressed group-based sympathy and guilt towards asylum seekers. Similar pathways were observed in the Romanian sample except for the role of entitlement. Moreover, S-BC and related constructs were relatively strong in the Australian sample. The findings are important because they point to the foundations of group-based S-BC. Findings are discussed in relation to the current scale of the global refugee crisis. © 2017, © 2017 European Association of Social Psychology.

Author Keywords

cross-cultural Asylum seekers National identification Schadenfreude blame threat

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050408045&doi=10.1080%2f23743603.2017.1360573&partnerID=40&md5=ae36c9e3c023f51b8a95c1691da61b25
DOI: 10.1080/23743603.2017.1360573
ISSN: 23743611
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English