Emotional reactions, coping and long‐term consequences of perceived discrimination among the Mapuche people of Chile

Abstract

Although a substantial body of research has now documented the negative mental and physical health impacts of discrimination on various minority/non-dominant groups, little has been reported on the impacts of such discrimination on indigenous populations. In this study, we investigated the selfreported emotional reactions, coping responses and long-term impacts of discriminatory experiences among 50 Mapuche adults in Chile. The limited literature suggests that a substantial proportion of the Chilean majority society is prejudiced and discriminatory towards the indigenous Mapuche population, and that the Mapuche experience discrimination. Interviews with participants indicated that discrimination was psychologically wounding, and aroused anger, undifferentiated bad feelings, shame and a sense of powerlessness. Participants responded with self-protective, self-controlled or confronting actions. Although negative long-term effects were reported, ethnic re-affirmation and strengthening of bonds within the Mapuche community were positive outcomes that seem to provide resilience for the participants. This does not discount however, the need for more research assessing the impacts of discrimination in Chile nor the need for anti-discrimination measures to be implemented.

The construction of ethnic minority identity: A discursive psychological approach to ethnic self-definition in action

“…The majority of A prevailing attitude within contemporary Chilean society is the presence of prejudice and discrimination against Mapuches that has been documented extensively in the literature. Prejudice and discrimination have been reported in everyday oral interaction among Chileans (Merino and Quilaqueo, 2003;Merino, Pilleux, Quilaqueo and Millamán 2004;Merino, 2006;Mellor, Merino, Saiz and Quilaqueo 2009;Merino and Mellor, 2009); in public and political discourse (Merino and Quilaqueo,2004;San Martín, 2001); and in educational practices and school textbooks (Rojas and Sepúlveda, 2002). In a longitudinal study Quilaqueo (2005-2007) …”

Ethnic Discrimination against Mapuche Students in Urban High Schools in the Araucanía Region, Chile

“…Interestingly, Merino and Mellor (2009) revealed that among the four modes of discrimination, the verbal component was the most recurring and that school was the main context for discrimination, being the teacher the main perpetrator. However, these findings were based on interviews with adults who were reporting on their past experiences Mellor et al (2009) also investigated the impacts of these experiences, as reported by Mapuche people, which included feeling psychologically wounded, aroused anger, undifferentiated bad feelings, shame, and a sense of powerlessness.…”

Exploring the Relationships of Perceived Discrimination, Anger, and Aggression among North American Indigenous Adolescents

“…What we do know is that discrimination is a consistent correlate of several negative outcomes. Experiences with discrimination are positively associated with anger (Mellor et al 2009), depressive symptoms, and alcohol abuse among Indigenous adults (Whitbeck, McMorris et al 2002; Whitbeck et al 2004). It is also associated with increased depressive symptoms, substance use, anger, suicide ideation, and problem behaviors among Indigenous adolescents (Walls et al 2007; Whitbeck et al 2001; Yoder et al 2006).…”

“…Additionally, anger has been identified as a correlate of aggression or delinquency (Agnew 1992; Camodeca and Goosens 2005) and perceived discrimination (Mellor et al 2009; Whitbeck et al 2001). It is generally treated as a precursor to aggression (Camodeca and Goosens 2005) and hypothesized to be an intervening variable between strain (i.e., perceived discrimination) and delinquency (Agnew 1992).…”