Is there “smoke without fire”? Applying the theory of values to the study of motivational aspects of ethnic stereotypes: The case of Jewish stereotypes in Russia

Abstract

Few studies have examined to what extent commonly held stereotypes reflect real intergroup differences in motivational goals. Taking a values perspective (Schwartz et al., 2012), the study examines value preferences among Jews and Russians in Russia, to assess the extent to which commonly held stereotypes reflect values of group members. Results showed that Jews reported substantially higher levels of universalism‐tolerance, benevolence (both caring and dependability), and tradition values, and lower levels of power (both dominance and resources), and universalism‐nature values, than Russians. Results indicated that the widespread Jewish stereotypes of power, achievement, and rootlessness/cosmopolitanism are ungrounded, while the stereotypes of liberalism and particularism are upheld by the reported differences in the value preferences between Jews and the majority population in Russia. The present study underscores the importance of value comparisons between ethnic minority and majority groups for understanding their motivational goals and thus fighting prejudices and discrimination.

Value incongruence between natives and forced migrants in Europe and Australia

“…Values can be described as cognitive constructs which define certain desirable goals. When ordered by importance, they represent people's motivations and are an integral part of stereotypes because most stereotypes are formulated in terms of a group's motivational goals, which are inherently linked to values, e.g., "Muslims want to Islamize Europe"; "Jews are greedy and mercenary" (Tartakovsky et al, 2020). Stereotypes of forced migrants manifest in FRPP discourse because they represent one of the most effective means for legitimising their exclusionist asylum agendas (Van Leeuwen, 2007;Wodak, 2020;Talay, 2020).…”

“…Although there is some evidence to suggest that the values of forced migrants could be incongruous with host country culture (Eskelinen & Verkuyten, 2020;Talay, 2017;Lewis & Kashyap, 2013), this conclusion cannot be drawn without specific data. Earlier research has demonstrated that perceptions of minority group values are rooted in unfounded stereotypes, many of which prove to be inaccurate (Tartakovsky et al, 2020;Hanel et al, 2018). It is feasible that native perceptions of FMV in Australia and Europe are derived from emotive, unrepresentative portrayals of asylum seekers from exclusionist parties.…”

Approaches to Research Methodology of Ethnic Stereotypes (with the Example of the Image of the Estonian in the View of Russian-speaking Students of Estonia)

“…Точность/неточность, истинность/ ложность стереотипов до сих пор составляют предмет дискуссии; в начале XXI в. исследовательские коллективы ищут различные способы проверки существующих этнических стереотипов на истинность (см. : Realo et al 2009;Allik et al 2010;Tartakovsky et al 2020).…”