Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
Volume 48, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 400-415

The Impact of Narratives on Attitudes toward Muslim Immigrants in the U.S. (Article)

Bresnahan M.* , Yan X. , Zhu Y. , Hussain S.A.
  • a Department of Communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
  • b Department of Communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
  • c Department of Communication, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, United States
  • d Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States

Abstract

This study examined the impact of narratives on attitudes toward Muslim immigrants in the U.S. Based on a 2 (content: acceptance vs. rejection) × 2 (narrator: Muslim vs. American) plus control condition design, 479 participants read one of five messages. More contact and positive attribution toward Muslim immigrants was associated less threat and exclusion. The American narrator telling a rejection narrative was the most disliked and received little empathy. Overall, narratives describing Muslim immigrants’ experience of rejection were more impactful on participant intention to engage in pro-social behaviours. This study discussed the implications of narratives in bias reduction efforts. © 2019, © 2019 World Communication Association.

Author Keywords

intergroup emotions narrative persuasion threat and exclusion bias reduction Anti-Muslim bias in the U.S

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85070918886&doi=10.1080%2f17475759.2019.1649294&partnerID=40&md5=9619a1182b9011cf0a1277a9efc23930
DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2019.1649294
ISSN: 17475759
Original Language: English