Perceived in‐group threat as a factor moderating the influence of in‐group norms on discrimination against foreigners

Abstract

Within the framework of an intergroup relations paradigm, three studies analysed the role of in-group threat in intergroup discrimination and the influence of in-group norms on intergroup discrimination. The first study showed that perceived socio-economic threat underlies Swiss nationals' prejudice and discrimination toward foreigners in Switzerland. The second and third studies experimentally tested the hypotheses, first, that variations in perception of in-group threat will produce change in initial discrimination, and, second, that the influence of an in-group norm (pro-vs. anti-discriminatory) is moderated by the perception of in-group threat. In support of these predictions, results of both studies indicated that discrimination was reduced when perceived in-group threat was low. However, the antidiscriminatory in-group norm reduced discrimination only when perceived in-group threat was low. No influence was observed for the pro-discriminatory in-group norm.

Migration and Multiculturalism

“…In an attempt to understand why immigrants remained a target of prejudice in Switzerland despite prevailing anti-discrimination norms, Falomir-Pichastor, Munoz-Rojas, Invernizzi, & Mugny (2004) showed that economic threat moderated the impact of antidiscrimination norms on discrimination. Experimentally induced anti-discrimination norms reduced discrimination of immigrants only when threat was low (i.e., when fictitious research findings demonstrated that a high proportion of immigrants did not increase unemployment).…”

“…Experimental research, in turn, addresses these critiques by manipulating threat perceptions in various ways (see also Schlueter, Schmidt, & Wagner, 2008, for longitudinal evidence). Many studies use fictitious newspaper articles, editorials, research findings or policy framings to manipulate threat perceptions, thereby simulating dissemination of threat-based arguments in the media and the public sphere (e.g., Esses et al, 1998;Falomir-Pichastor et al, 2004;Pratto & Lemieux, 2001). However, controlled experiments remain artificial situations-frequently using student populations-and thus cannot conclusively show the conditions under which threat shapes immigration policy stances among the general population in the real world.…”

The dynamics of interminority extended contact: The role of affective and cognitive mediators.

“…Research has shown that norms guide people's cognition and behaviour (for a review, see Cialdini, Kallgren, & Reno, 1991) and help individuals to orient themselves towards others in INTERMINORITY EXTENDED CONTACT 7 intergroup situations (e.g., Falomir-Pichastor, Muñoz-Rojas, Invernizzi, & Mugny, 2004;Jetten, Spears, & Manstead, 1996).…”

Xenophobia: Social Psychological Aspects

“…Conformity to group norms proves to depend on perceived in-group threat and on the extent to which the norm provides an appropriate answer to such a threat. Falomir-Pichastor et al (2004) observed that Swiss nationals conformed to an antidiscrimination in-group norm (i.e., they reduced discrimination against foreigners) when the out-group was perceived as nonthreatening (i.e., when foreigners were not perceived as taking jobs nor increasing nationals' unemployment). However, the same norm did not obtain any influence, and a counterconformity effect even tended to appear, when the out-group was perceived as threatening.…”