Revista de Psicologia Social
Volume 32, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 424-439

‘Believing is adapting’: Belief in a just world and emigrants’ identification and satisfaction with the host country / ‘Creer es adaptarse’: Creer en un mundo justo y la identificación y satisfacción de los emigrantes con el país de acogida (Article)

Leite A.C.* , Cardoso S.G. , Marques A.G. , Morais C.
  • a University of Kent, United Kingdom
  • b Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  • c University of Kent, United Kingdom
  • d University of Kent, United Kingdom

Abstract

In an era in which Europe is experiencing a new wave of emigration as a result of the economic crisis, it seems socially relevant to study the processes that underlie emigrants’ adjustment to their new place of living. Research has thoroughly supported the assumption that believing in a just world is an adaptive mechanism that helps people to deal with uncertainty and harsh realities in life. We propose that the endorsement of such beliefs might also contribute to a positive identification with the host country. Using a sample of Portuguese emigrants (N = 144), we demonstrate in a cross-sectional design that belief in a just world predicts a positive identification with the host country. In addition, positive levels of identification with the host country predicted higher levels of satisfaction with emigrant life. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed. © 2017 Fundacion Infancia y Aprendizaje.

Author Keywords

Migration Emigration belief in a just world identification with the host country Social identity

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014552300&doi=10.1080%2f02134748.2017.1291743&partnerID=40&md5=b60b8ae3abc13683a2f43c019840c571
DOI: 10.1080/02134748.2017.1291743
ISSN: 02134748
Original Language: English