Keeping the vermin out: Perceived disease threat and ideological orientations as predictors of exclusionary immigration attitudes

Abstract

Integrating evolutionary and social representations theories, the current study examines the relationship between perceived disease threat and exclusionary immigration attitudes in the context of a potential avian influenza pandemic. This large-scale disease provides a realistic context for investigating the link between disease threat and immigration attitudes. The main aim of this cross-sectional study (N ¼ 412) was to explore mechanisms through which perceived chronic and contextual disease threats operate on immigration attitudes. Structural equation models show that the relationship between chronic disease threat (germ aversion) and exclusionary immigration attitudes (assimilationist immigration criteria, health-based immigration criteria and desire to reduce the proportion of foreigners) was mediated by ideological and normative beliefs (social dominance orientation, belief in a dangerous world), but not by contextual disease threat (appraisal of avian influenza pandemic threat). Contextual disease threat only predicted support for health-based immigration criteria. The conditions under which real-life disease threats influence intergroup attitudes are scrutinized. Convergence and dissimilarity of evolutionary and social representational approaches in accounting for the link between disease threat and immigration attitudes are discussed.

Trust in medical organizations predicts pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccination behavior and perceived efficacy of protection measures in the Swiss public

“…The Wave 1 questionnaire was adapted from a previous survey about avian influenza [14]. To homogenize response format, we mainly used Likert scales ranging from 1 to 5 and computed mean scores.…”

Public apprehension of emerging infectious diseases: are changes afoot?

“…In terms of Europeans, there is little evidence for widespread levels of worry or for the distancing part of the pattern, in which already marginalised groups are blamed for the cause or spread of a disease. The notion that low threat to humans does not galvanise the age-old pattern is examined by Green et al (2010) via their study of the link between disease threat and exclusion of immigrants in a European context, during the 2005 major international Avian Influenza threat. They found that the threat of disease did not translate directly into prejudice against out-groups in the context of the Avian Influenza threat and suggest that this was because: human-to-human transmission seemed unlikely at the time of the study and so the perceived threat was not strong; although the origin of the outbreak was seen to be Asian, "Bird Flu" was not associated with Asian or other out-groups; instead of being associated with out-groups, the spread was mainly associated with migrating birds and so seen to be beyond human control.…”

Agency's Role in Dehumanization: Non‐human Metaphors of Out‐groups

“…As discussed earlier, targets denied mental states (both desires and beliefs) but imputed behavioral potential inspire disgust and fear and are likened to pestilence, cockroaches, parasites, vermin, and other disease‐carriers. Targets of these metaphors include terrorists (Steuter & Wills, , ), homeless individuals (Amster, ), welfare recipients (Gring‐Pemble, p. 350), and immigrants (Green et al, ; O'Brien, ). These groups exhibit behavioral agency through their “swarming” and their ability to transfer contamination and spread disease, but they are denied mental states.…”