The Colorblind, Multicultural, and Polycultural Ideological Approaches to Improving Intergroup Attitudes and Relations

Abstract

Scholars have long explored the colorblind and multicultural ideological approaches to improving intergroup attitudes and relations. Polyculturalism, a newly studied ideological approach, focuses on the past and current interactions and connections among different racial and ethnic groups. Drawing on cross‐disciplinary work, we critically examine the various forms that each of these ideological approaches has taken across studies, and their implications for intergroup attitudes and relations among racially and ethnically diverse children, adolescents, and adults. Although each ideological approach has been examined in several ways (often combining different forms of each approach), there is sufficient comparative work to draw some conclusions. We propose that a combined ideological approach be implemented in educational settings that maximizes the strengths and positive intergroup consequences of colorblindness, multiculturalism, and polyculturalism, while minimizes the weaknesses and negative intergroup consequences of each approach.

From equality and inclusion to cultural pluralism – Evolution and effects of cultural diversity perspectives in schools

“…and how they are associated with each type of outcome. Such measures should also include the concept of polyculturalism, which highlights dynamic aspects of cultures and culture change and could prevent the manifestation of cultural stereotypes in a cultural pluralism perspective (Rosenthal & Levy, 2010).…”

“…Depending on the conceptualization of cultural pluralism, it may also elicit and support cultural stereotypes, which may in turn increase actual experiences of discrimination (Rosenthal & Levy, 2010). Mixed-method research analysing diversityrelated content on school websites and in school buildings from Germany suggests that cultural pluralism is indeed often implemented in a rather superficial way (Civitillo et al, 2017).…”

“…This neglect of cultural diversity was often accompanied by promoting assimilation of minority group members to a mainstream culture (Park & Judd, 2005;Rosenthal & Levy, 2010). It was therefore proposed that intergroup contact should be complemented by an appreciation of cultural pluralism (e.g., Park & Judd, 2005).…”

Religious Ambivalence: Suppression of Pro-Social Attitudes Toward Asylum Seekers by Right-Wing Authoritarianism

“…Acculturation ideologies are being increasingly studied internationally (Levin et al, 2012;Plaut, Thomas & Goren, 2009;Rosenthal & Levy, 2010;Vorauer & Sasaki, 2011) and three such ideologies common to the literature are multiculturalism, colour-blindness and assimilationist perspectives.…”

We are human, they are not: Driving forces behind outgroup dehumanisation and the humanisation of the ingroup

“…Among acculturation strategies (Berry, 1980), colour-blind ideology (Maquil, Demoulin, & Leyens, 2009;Rosenthal & Levy, 2010) comprises assimilation and implies that minority groups adopt the position of the dominant outgroup. While assimilation is mostly 92 VAES ET AL.…”