Immigration as a Threat: Explaining the Changing Pattern of Xenophobia in Spain

D’Ancona, Ma Ángeles Cea

doi:10.1007/s12134-015-0415-3

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Specifically, in Spain following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current unemployment rate (May 2020) is at 14.4%. In situations of crisis, the perception of threat increases [ 51 ] and minority groups (for example, immigrants and refugees) can become scapegoats for taking out frustration [ 66 ] and consequently prejudice is increased. Therefore, fostering policies of employability and improving work conditions not only foment a more socially cohesive society, but also one where potential intergroup conflicts can be prevented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The latest data on Syrian asylum seekers in Spain, corresponding to 2019, indicated a number of 2775. This increase within such a short time is important in the host population’s perception of refugees, because among the main variables involved in the activation of threat and negative attitudes towards outgroups are the size of the foreign population and competition for resources brought about by the country’s economic context [ 22 , 31 , 51 ]. In line with the ITT [ 17 ], in our study we expected the participants to show greater prejudice when they felt a higher degree of realistic threat (H1a) and symbolic threat (H1b) toward Syrian refugees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the same time, the refugee crisis is framed within the context of the economic and financial crisis in Europe, which, together with the austerity measures, have brought about a lesser degree of openness from the European population towards persons coming from other countries [ 52 ]. During periods of crises, the perception that minority groups pose a threat for scarce resources and for the national cultural homogeneity becomes exacerbated [ 51 ]. Specifically in Spain, the economic crisis of 2008 was severe and intense and intergroup relations were sharply impacted by this social reality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality

Vallejo-Martín

Canto

García

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Refugees frequently experience traumatic situations that result in the deterioration of their psychological well-being. In addition, perceived prejudice and discrimination against them by the host society can worsen their mental health. In this research study, using a Spanish sample, prejudice towards Syrian refugees is analyzed taking into account feeling of threat (realistic or symbolic), precarious employment, and perceived outgroup morality. Using a total of 365 participants, our results reveal that individuals feel more prejudice towards refugees when the former scored higher in realistic threat and symbolic threat, were in a highly precarious situation of employment and perceived refugees as being more immoral. Furthermore, it was found that persons who scored high in realistic threat and at the same time were in a situation of precarious employment, were those who displayed greater prejudice. The results likewise pointed to individuals who scored high in symbolic threat and in outgroup morality as being those who felt greater rejection towards the refugees. Accordingly, our results confirm the importance of feeling of threat in relation to prejudice, and highlight two important moderating factors: precarious employment and perceived outgroup morality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality

Vallejo-Martín

Canto

García

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Accordingly, polls indicate that anti‐immigration attitudes have increased from 1996 to 2010 with the growing foreign‐born population (Cea D'Ancona, ). Furthermore, on a subnational level, some autonomous communities seem to have more pronounced exclusionary attitudes than others, which some scholars connect to the prevalence of regional nationalism (Escandell & Ceobanu, ).…”

Section: Group Threat Of Immigrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There a Backlash Against Immigration From Richer Countries? International Hierarchy and the Limits of Group Threat

Kustov

2019

Political Psychology

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Why do immigrants from particular countries systematically face more opposition? To resolve inconsistencies of prevailing group‐threat theories, I reintroduce a long‐standing hypothesis stipulating that people have a disposition for maintaining status hierarchy between ethnic groups. Accordingly, independent of perceived economic or cultural threat, natives are more likely to prefer immigrant groups of higher status based on the development level of the group's national origin. To test this argument, I exploit a substantial provincial variation of immigration flows and attitudes in Spain—one of the only countries that has received immigrants from both less and more developed countries. Consistent with my hypothesis, I demonstrate that anti‐immigration attitudes are more widespread in areas with immigrants from less developed countries regardless of their economic and cultural characteristics. I further document that many voters perceive stable group hierarchies and that these preferences are more predictive of anti‐immigration attitudes in lower‐status immigration contexts. Overall, these results suggest that even culturally similar and economically beneficial immigrant groups from poorer countries can face public opposition due to their lower‐status national origin, highlighting the independent role of group‐status perceptions in politics.

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“…As noted by Calero (2006), many official documents espouse a doctrine of mutual respect, respect for basic human rights, and pluralism. However, it is commonly noted that these official documents are not widely disseminated and often fail to correspond with the reality faced by immigrants attempting to succeed in school or at work in Spain (Cea D’Ancona & Valles, 2009). Failure and school dropout during the secondary school years is often cited as a particular problem in immigrant communities (Aparicio, Portes, & Haller, 2009; Serra & Palaudàrias, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School Adjustment and Friendship Quality of First- and Second-Generation Adolescent Immigrants to Spain as a Function of Acculturation

Valdivia

Schneider

Carrasco

2016

Journal of Adolescent Research

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The purpose of this study was to determine the links between school adjustment, friendship, and identification with both the cultures of origin and with the host culture. Our overriding hypothesis was that integration in Berry’s terms, that is, simultaneous identification with both the culture of origin and the majority Spanish/Catalan culture, would predict better school adjustment. We also expected the same integrated acculturative stance to be linked with closer and less conflictual friendships. The participants were 682 students, in six public high schools in Catalonia, Spain. Of these, 226 were first- and second-generation immigrants, and this subset was used in most of the analyses reported herein. The results showed that acculturation to the host culture and acculturation to the culture of origin are both adaptive but in different ways. These results applied to both first- and second-generation immigrants. Identification with the culture of origin was a significant predictor of closeness in friendship. In contrast, identification with the host culture is linked with school adjustment. Integrated adolescents, who identify simultaneously with host culture and culture of origin, do best at school according to teachers but not significantly better than assimilated students, who identify primarily with the host culture.

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Immigration as a Threat: Explaining the Changing Pattern of Xenophobia in Spain

Cited by 30 publications

References 47 publications

Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality

Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality

Is There a Backlash Against Immigration From Richer Countries? International Hierarchy and the Limits of Group Threat

School Adjustment and Friendship Quality of First- and Second-Generation Adolescent Immigrants to Spain as a Function of Acculturation

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