Anti-Immigrant Prejudice: Understanding the Roles of (Perceived) Values and Value Dissimilarity

Lukas Wolf, Netta Weinstein, Gregory Maio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Citations (SciVal)
388 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Although human values and value dissimilarity play pivotal roles in the prejudice
literature, there remain important gaps in our understanding. To address these gaps, we recruited three British samples (N=350) and presented Muslim immigrants, refugees, and economic migrants as target groups. Using polynomial regression analyses, we simultaneously tested effects of individuals’ own values, their perceptions of immigrant values, and self-immigrant value dissimilarities on prejudice. Results indicated that favorability toward immigrants is higher when individuals hold higher self-transcendence values (e.g., equality) and lower self-enhancement values (e.g., power), and when they perceive immigrants to hold higher self-transcendence values and lower self-enhancement values. In addition, prejudice toward immigrants is higher when individuals who hold higher conservation values (e.g., security) perceive immigrants to value openness (e.g., freedom) more, suggesting a value dissimilarity effect. No value dissimilarity effects emerged when immigrants were perceived to be higher in conservation, self-transcendence, or self-enhancement values. Overall, these results showed that effects of values and value dissimilarity differ depending on which value dimension is considered. Additionally, the results revealed support for a novel mechanism with the motivation to be non-prejudiced underpinning the links between individuals’ values and prejudice. Our discussion highlights the multifaceted manner in which values are linked to prejudice.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)925-953
Number of pages29
JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology
Volume117
Issue number5
Early online date21 Jan 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2019

Keywords

  • human values
  • prejudice
  • dissimilarity
  • immigrants

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anti-Immigrant Prejudice: Understanding the Roles of (Perceived) Values and Value Dissimilarity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this