The relationship between outgroup size and anti-outgroup attitudes: A theoretical synthesis and empirical test of group threat- and intergroup contact theory

Schlueter, Elmar; Scheepers, P.L.H.

doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.07.006

Cited by 380 publications

(380 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…As already mentioned, conflict theory predicts anti-immigration attitudes to increase with immigrant group size, while contact theory expects diversity to promote familiarity and tolerance (Stein et al 2000;Schlueter and Scheepers 2010). We test these theories by including in the models the percentage of immigrants over the whole population; and the percentages of immigrants born within and outside the EU to account for regional diversity in inter-group contact.…”

Section: Regional Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 96%

What determines attitudes to immigration in European countries? An analysis at the regional level

2013

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Different disciplines within the social sciences have produced large theoretical and empirical literatures to explain the determinants of anti-immigration attitudes. We bring together these literatures in a unified framework and identify testable hypothesis on what characteristics of the individual and of the local environment are likely to have an impact on anti-immigration attitudes. While most of the previous literature focuses on the explanation of attitudes at the individual level, we focus on the impact on regional characteristics (the local context). Our aim is to explain why people living in different regions differ in terms of their attitudes towards immigration. We isolate the impact of regions from regressions using individual-level data and explain this residual regional heterogeneity in attitudes with aggregate level indicators of regional characteristics. We find that regions with a higher percentage of immigrants born outside the EU and a higher unemployment rate among the immigrant population show a higher probability that natives express negative attitudes to immigration. Regions with a higher unemployment rate among natives however, show less pronounced anti-immigrant attitudes.JEL Classification: F22; J15; J61; R19

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Section: Regional Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 96%

What determines attitudes to immigration in European countries? An analysis at the regional level

2013

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“…A more complete understanding of the role of immigrant integration policies in intergroup relationships between majority members and immigrants might also be achieved by examining the consequences of perceived group threat, such as policy preferences (Mughan & Paxton, 2006) or anti-immigrant discriminatory intentions (Schlueter & Scheepers, 2010). In concluding, we also consider the practical implications of the present research.…”

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confidence: 96%

Immigrant Integration policies and perceived Group Threat: A Multilevel Study of 27 Western and Eastern European Countries

Schlueter

Meuleman

Davidov

2013

Social Science Research

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162

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Although immigrant integration policies have long been hypothesized to be associated with majority members' anti-immigrant sentiments, systematic empirical research exploring this relationship is largely absent. To address this gap in the literature, the present research takes a cross-national perspective. Drawing from theory and research on group conflict and intergroup norms, we conduct two studies to examine whether preexisting integration policies that are more permissive promote or impede majority group members' subsequent negative attitudes regarding immigrants. . For both studies, the results from multilevel regression models demonstrate that immigrant integration policies that are more permissive are associated with decreased perceptions of group threat from immigrants. These findings suggest that immigrant integration policies are of key importance in improving majority members' attitudes regarding immigrants, which is widely considered desirable in modern immigrantreceiving societies. AbstractAlthough immigrant integration policies have long been hypothesized to be associated with majority members' anti-immigrant sentiments, systematic empirical research exploring this relationship is largely absent. To address this gap in the literature, the present research takes a cross-national perspective. Drawing from theory and research on group conflict and intergroup norms, we conduct two studies to examine whether preexisting integration policies that are more permissive promote or impede majority group members' subsequent negative attitudes regarding immigrants. For several Western and Eastern European countries, we link country-level information on immigrant integration policies from 2007 with individual-level survey data from the Eurobarometer 71.3 collected in 2009 (Study 1) and from the fourth wave of the European Value Study collected between 2008 and 2009 (Study 2). For both studies, the results from multilevel regression models demonstrate that immigrant integration policies that are more permissive are associated with decreased perceptions of group threat from immigrants. These findings suggest that immigrant integration policies are of key importance in improving majority members' attitudes regarding immigrants, which is widely considered desirable in modern, immigrant-receiving societies.2

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“…This theory posits that ethnic competition, at the individual level as well as at the contextual level, increases perceptions of ethnic out-group threat, which in turn increase antagonism toward immigrants among ethnic majority members (Blalock 1967;Scheepers et al 2002). The competition may be objectively assessable or only subjectively perceived (Blalock 1967), but what matters is that individuals who experience ethnic competition are expected to perceive more ethnic threat (McLaren 2003;Schlueter and Scheepers 2010). Ethnic competition theory predicts that these perceptions are especially present among vulnerable economic groups who hold similar positions to ethnic minorities in general and even more so in times of economic decline (Quillian 1995;Scheepers et al 2002;Billiet et al 2014).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In terms of ethnic competition theory, indicators of ethnic competition are expected to increase perceived ethnic threat among natives in similar economic positions as migrants, which in turn increases their restrictiveness toward immigration (Schlueter and Scheepers 2010). In line with previous research, we hypothesize that support for restrictive immigration policies is stronger among (a) natives with a lower level of educational attainment, (b) native manual workers, (c) unemployed natives, and (d) self-employed natives (H1a), because they perceive more ethnic threat (H1b).…”

Section: Individual Differences In Support For Restrictive Immigratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Support for restrictive immigration policies in the European Union 2002–2013: the impact of economic strain and ethnic threat for vulnerable economic groups

2017

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Testing propositions from ethnic competition theory, we examine contextual and individual determinants of support for restrictive immigration policies in 26 European Union member states between 2002 and 2013, a period characterized by enduring economic downturn. We hypothesize that natives in vulnerable economic positions, similar to many migrants, are more restrictive toward immigration, because they perceive more economic strain and more ethnic threat. We expect that natives are more restrictive in times of economic decline -when national unemployment rates and debts increase -especially those who hold similar economic positions as many migrants. We enriched European Social Survey data (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013), containing more than 210,000 respondents) with cross-national data on the economic situation. We indeed find that support for immigration restrictiveness is higher among natives in more vulnerable socio-economic positions. They perceive more economic strain, which is directly related to restrictiveness. But economic strain also increases perceptions of ethnic threat, which is strongly related to restrictiveness. We do, however, not find strong empirical evidence that economic decline more strongly affects support for restrictive immigration policies among vulnerable economic groups. Stronger changes in national debts induce more restrictiveness among the full population, but especially among those who perceive more economic strain and more ethnic threat.

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The relationship between outgroup size and anti-outgroup attitudes: A theoretical synthesis and empirical test of group threat- and intergroup contact theory

Cited by 380 publications

References 56 publications

What determines attitudes to immigration in European countries? An analysis at the regional level

What determines attitudes to immigration in European countries? An analysis at the regional level

Immigrant Integration policies and perceived Group Threat: A Multilevel Study of 27 Western and Eastern European Countries

Support for restrictive immigration policies in the European Union 2002–2013: the impact of economic strain and ethnic threat for vulnerable economic groups

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