Feeling Threatened About the Future

Outten, H. Robert; Schmitt, Michael; Miller, Daniel A.; Garcia, Amber L.

doi:10.1177/0146167211418531

Cited by 225 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…The only relation that was present in this study was the one between perceived diversity and anti-immigrant feelings. More recent research has confirmed these findings (Weins 2011;Outten et al 2012).…”

Section: Group Conflict Theory and Out-group Sizementioning

confidence: 63%

The perception of ethnic diversity and anti-immigrant sentiments: a multilevel analysis of local communities in Belgium

Hooghe¹,

Vroome²

2013

Ethnic and Racial Studies

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Most of the literature suggests a positive relationship between immigrant concentration and anti-immigrant sentiments. The main goal of this study is to investigate the impact of both perceived and actual size of migrant populations on anti-immigrant sentiments. A representative survey of inhabitants of local communities in the Flemish region of Belgium shows a strong tendency to overestimate the presence of non-nationals. The survey allows us to conclude that respondents living in ethnically diverse communities do not have more negative attitudes towards immigrants. Individuals who perceive more immigrants to be present in their communities are more hostile even after controlling for reported contact with members of immigrant groups. We can therefore conclude that the perceived size of the immigrant group has a stronger impact on anti-immigrant sentiments than the actual presence of ethnic minority groups.

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Section: Group Conflict Theory and Out-group Sizementioning

confidence: 63%

The perception of ethnic diversity and anti-immigrant sentiments: a multilevel analysis of local communities in Belgium

Hooghe¹,

Vroome²

2013

Ethnic and Racial Studies

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“…There is some evidence for this idea. For instance, Outten, Schmitt, Miller, and Garcia (2012;Study 2) showed that White Canadians who were informed that they will soon no longer be the numerical majority in Canada reported greater anger and fear towards minorities as well as greater sympathy towards White Canadians. Threat was assessed in part via agreement that White Canadians will have little influence on Canadian society in the future-a measure of collective efficacy concerns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Will we be harmed, will it be severe, can we protect ourselves? Threat appraisals predict collective angst (and its consequences)

Tabri

Wohl

Caouette

2017

Euro J Social Psych

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Across four studies, we applied the cognitive model of anxiety to explicate the appraisals that elicit collective angst (i.e., concern for the in-group's future vitality). In Study 1a, consistent with the model, Québécois experienced collective angst when they appraised the following: (1) a threat as likely to harm their group, (2) a threat as severely harming their group, and (3) Québécois as not having efficacy to protect their group. In Study 1b, results were replicated in the context of the realistic threat that Islamic extremists pose to Christian-Lebanese. In Studies 2a and 2b, we manipulated the three appraisals and found a similar pattern of results in the context of a potential terrorist attack on American soil by Islamic extremists. Importantly, collective angst mediated the threat appraisal effect on (non-Muslim) Americans' prejudice towards Muslims. The utility of the appraisal model for regulating collective angst (and thus its consequences) is discussed.Group members find comfort in the belief that there exists continuity in their group's past, present, and future (Jetten & Hutchison, 2011;Jetten & Wohl, 2012;Sani et al., 2007). This is because a sense of continuity provides existential security (Durkheim, 1951). Yet, social groups are not static; they change-a reality that, when salient, is often perceived as a threat to one's social identity (Riek, Mania, & Gaertner, 2006) and thus produces distress among group members (Chandler & Lalonde, 1998;Lampinen, Odegard, & Leding, 2004). This distress may manifest in collective angst-a group-based emotion that reflects concern for the future vitality of the in-group (Jetten & Wohl, 2012;Wohl, Branscombe, & Reysen, 2010).Importantly, collective angst originates from perceived extinction threats to one's in-group. These threats may take the form of realistic extinction threats posed by adversarial out-groups (Halperin, Porat, & Wohl, 2013;Wohl et al., 2010) but may also take the form of symbolic threats to the group's social identity (e.g., loss of cultural vitality; Wohl, Giguère, Branscombe, & McVicar, 2011). Halperin et al. (2013), for example, found that Israeli Jews experienced collective angst when they were informed that Israel did not have the capability to prevent a nuclear attack from Iran. Likewise, Canadians experienced collective angst when they perceived Canadian distinctiveness from the United States was under threat (Wohl et al., 2011). Whether the threat perceived is realistic or symbolic, the consequence of collective angst is the same-an upswing in support for efforts to strengthen the ingroup (e.g., support for policies that are perceived to be in-group protective; for a review, see Lucas, Rudolph, Zhdanova, Barkho, & Weidner, 2014;Wohl, Squires, & Caouette, 2012). To date, however, little is known about the appraisals of intergroup events that are necessary to elicit collective angst. The present research addressed this gap in knowledge by applying the cognitive model of anxiety (Beck, Emery, & Greenberg, 1985;Clark & Beck, 201...

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“…Study 1 investigated British people's willingness to engage in collective action against immigrants. Participants were informed that in 40 years the proportion of immigrants in Britain is likely to stay the same (control condition) or that in 40 years the number of immigrants is likely to be greater than the number of White people (threat condition; for a similar manipulation, see Outten et al, 2012). Participants then indicated the extent to which they felt three emotions (angst, fear, and anger), prejudice toward immigrants, and willingness to engage in collective action against immigrants.…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, disadvantaged groups can threaten the advantaged group's distinct and prestigious social identity (for a review, see Jetten, Spears, & Postmes, 2004). Such threats are likely to increase prejudice toward disadvantaged groups (Esses, Medianu, & Lawson, 2013;Stephan, Renfro, Esses, Stephan, & Martin, 2005) and result in advantaged group members experiencing a variety of aversive emotions (Outten, Schmitt, Miller, & Garcia, 2012;Wohl & Branscombe, 2009). However, there has been little research assessing the extent to which these factors motivate advantaged groups to undertake collective action against the disadvantaged group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of threat, emotions, and prejudice in promoting collective action against immigrant groups

Shepherd

Fasoli

Pereira

et al. 2018

Euro J Social Psych

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In two studies we assessed the role of distinctiveness threat, group‐based emotions (angst, fear, and anger), and prejudice on people's willingness to engage in collective action against immigrant groups. In Study 1 (N = 222) White British participants were either informed that in the next 40 years the proportion of immigrants in the UK is unlikely to change (control condition) or that there will be more immigrants than White British people living in Britain (threat condition). We obtained support for a sequential multiple mediator model in which threat predicted British people's willingness to engage in collective action via the emotions first and then prejudice. This finding was replicated in Study 2 with an Italian sample (N = 283). These results enhance understanding of when and why advantaged groups undertake collective action against disadvantaged groups by demonstrating that distinctiveness threats and emotions promote such actions.

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Feeling Threatened About the Future

Cited by 225 publications

References 47 publications

The perception of ethnic diversity and anti-immigrant sentiments: a multilevel analysis of local communities in Belgium

The perception of ethnic diversity and anti-immigrant sentiments: a multilevel analysis of local communities in Belgium

Will we be harmed, will it be severe, can we protect ourselves? Threat appraisals predict collective angst (and its consequences)

The role of threat, emotions, and prejudice in promoting collective action against immigrant groups

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