Societies’ hostility, anger and mistrust towards Migrants: A vicious circle

Abstract

Summary Anger, hostility and mistrust towards refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants (hereafter migrants) are increasing across most Western societies. Media discourse, tough migration laws, and the escalation of right-wing views across Europe, all manifest a desire to exclude those who are seen as a threat to national interests and identities. The literature repeatedly confirms that discrimination has a harmful impact on the general well-being of migrants, while often weakening their trust on helping professionals. Social workers are among the professionals most often in contact with migrants, making them important actors in the field of migration. Findings This qualitative study was conducted in Madrid (Spain) and follows the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Findings revealed that Muslims and Blacks are the groups facing the most intense racial hostility. Emotions like fear, sadness, learned helplessness, frustration, rejection, anger, and general mistrust were underlined by participants. Some migrants highlighted negative coping mechanisms like isolation, aggressive impulses, approaching mafias, and risk behaviours, leading to further rejection from host societies, and thus initiating a vicious circle of hostility. Application These findings constitute a modest contribution to the literature, as they result from an integration of migrants’ and helping professionals’ perspectives. Several suggestions are put forward for social workers and other professionals. The two most significant suggestions are that professionals (a) use their field experience to raise awareness about racial hostility towards this population, and (b) help identify migrants who may rely on negative coping strategies and so prevent adverse consequences for both migrants and host societies.

Chewing Revenge or Becoming Socially Desirable? Anger Rumination in Refugees and Immigrants Experiencing Racial Hostility: Latin-Americans in Spain

“…First, information was gathered from the literature [ 40 ] regarding racial discrimination contexts in Western societies and the basic emotions that are frequently triggered in RASI by those scenarios. Another important source of information was a qualitative study conducted by the authors [ 23 ] in Madrid (Spain). In that study, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with RASI with ten nationalities, along with seven interviews of professionals working with RASI in six NGOs.…”

“…As shown in Figure 1 , the final instrument includes six negative and two positive scenarios. The six negative illustrations were based on racist situations experienced by RASI living in Madrid, whereas the two positive illustrations were based on suggestions provided by participants to promote the integration of RASI into Western countries [ 23 ]. One scenario of the PEI is presented in Figure 2 .…”

“…Those six NGOs were determined on the basis of a previous qualitative study conducted by the authors [ 23 ]. The six NGOs have the following characteristics: (1) they serve large numbers of RASI in Spain, regardless of their legal status; (2) they provide assistance to RASI in a great diversity of situations involving many nationalities and cultures; and (3) their work is recognized at both national and international levels.…”

“…According to various studies, being treated in a hostile manner leads to deep feelings of sadness, powerlessness, isolation, or, in some extreme situations, strong feelings of anger or even aggression in those affected [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, feeling discriminated against, stereotyped, or mistreated on the basis of nationality, culture, or religion often triggers negative reactions or behaviors, such as anger or frustration, that may be harmful to both the stereotyped group and the host society in general [ 24 ].…”

“…Although a range of tools exist that assess the impact of discrimination on the wellbeing of RASI [ 39 ], we did not find an instrument that identified RASI’s levels of anger rumination that are triggered by real scenarios of racial hostility. Therefore, based on the results from a previous qualitative investigation with RASI and helping professionals [ 23 ], our main objective in the present study was to identify the presence of a spiral of anger rumination in RASI as a consequence of experiencing racial hostility in the host country, so that professionals may be better equipped to support RASI while preventing negative effects at individual and social levels.…”