I will help you because we are similar: Quality of contact mediates the effect of perceived similarity on facilitative behaviour towards immigrants

Abstract

This research aimed to analyse interpersonal behaviour towards immigrants by exploring related psychosocial variables such as intergroup similarity and quality of intergroup contact. A new interpersonal behavioural tendencies scale was developed. In Study 1, Spanish participants reported their willingness to take different actions towards a Moroccan (i.e. a devalued target, n = 132) or an Ecuadorian (i.e. a valued target, n = 138), perceived intergroup similarity and quality of intergroup contact. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis identified the expected dimensions: active facilitation (AF), passive facilitation (PF), passive harm (PH) and active harm (AH). Participants reported less similarity, less pleasant contact, less AF and less PF, and more PH with respect to Moroccans relative to Ecuadorians. Quality of contact mediated the effect of perceived similarity on interpersonal behaviour (especially facilitative behaviour) towards immigrants. Study 2 (N = 134) confirmed that this mediation effect also applied to Romanian immigrants, and tested a serial mediation pathway, in which perceived similarity affected symbolic threat, which in turn affected quality of contact, which finally affected behaviour. Changing perceived intergroup similarity might be a way of improving the quality of contact with minority groups, and this would be expected to increase pro-social behaviour towards such groups.

Sustainability of Government Microblog in China: Exploring Social Factors on Mobile Government Microblog Continuance

“…Perceived similarity refers to the extent that a user is perceived as similar or dissimilar to other users which is an important predictor of attitudes [20]. Based on the extant studies [21], the present research conceptualized perceived similarity as internal similarity and external similarity.…”

“…On the other hand, extant studies also proposed that there are positive relationships between internal similarity and interpersonal interaction attitudes [20]. Past researches pointed out that individuals with similar attitudes are more likely to communicate with each other [21].…”

“…Due to the social interaction value, users actively participate in the interaction and can form new cognition and affection in the process of interaction. It is expected that when users perceive social interaction value, the anthropomorphic cues would increase [20]. Therefore, the anthropomorphic cues including visual appearance, social interactive value, identify attractiveness will have positive influences on involvement.…”

With a Little Help from Our Friends: The Impact of Cross-group Friendship on Acculturation Preferences

“…In line with this work, we expect that perceived similarity between groups will predict preferences for culture adoption as well. Members of host societies are often inclined to perceive immigrants' cultural differences as potentially threatening, and discordance between the perspectives and acculturation preferences of immigrants and host society members can introduce intergroup tensions (López-Rodríguez, Cuadrado, & Navas, 2017;Piontkowski, Rohmann, & Florack, 2002;Zagefka, Nigbur, González, & Tip, 2013). By contrast, greater perceived similarity with immigrants tends to be associated with lower perceptions of threat and more positive views about relations with immigrants among host society members (López-Rodríguez et al, 2017).…”

Letter from the new Editor‐in‐Chief

“…The current issue of the IJP has a strong focus on psychological science related to these issues with five articles focused on attitudes and behaviour towards outgroups, social discrimination, and adjustment following war. For example, López‐Rodríguez, Cuadrado, and Navas () demonstrate the importance of perceptions of similarity for positive behaviour towards immigrants. Their three studies, conducted with almost 400 Spanish adults, revealed that quality of contact mediated the association between perceived similarity and facilitative behaviour towards immigrants.…”