International Journal of Psychology
Volume 54, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 722-730

Zero-sum thinking as mediator of the relationship of national attitudes with (un)willingness to host refugees in own country (Article)

Piotrowski J.* , Różycka-Tran J. , Baran T. , Żemojtel-Piotrowska M.
  • a Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland
  • b Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Poland
  • c Institute of Psychology, Warsaw University, Poland
  • d Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

This study examines factors related to willingness to host refugees. We examined the role of national attitudes (patriotism, nationalism), out-group attitudes (classic and modern prejudice), and zero-sum thinking: Belief in a Zero-Sum Game and psychological entitlement in attitudes towards hosting refugees. We proposed including zero-sum thinking as possible mediator between national attitudes and attitudes towards refugees based on assumption that nationalism is a competitive attitude towards out-groups, while patriotism does not. Structural equation modelling based on a Polish national sample (N = 1092) revealed that patriotism is positively associated with willingness to host refugees, through its negative association with prejudice via decreasing zero-sum thinking. Nationalism was negatively associated with willingness to host refugees, through prejudice via increasing zero-sum thinking. Findings are discussed in the context of current refugee policies. © 2019 International Union of Psychological Science

Author Keywords

Prejudice Belief in a zero-sum game National attitudes Psychological entitlement Refugees

Index Keywords

Prejudice major clinical study structural equation modeling refugee mediator Article thinking human human experiment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059630033&doi=10.1002%2fijop.12538&partnerID=40&md5=004bdf4c30b780458aaa93a11ac37eeb
DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12538
ISSN: 00207594
Original Language: English