Does the Effect of Identity Fusion with the Country on Prejudice Toward Immigrants Depend on the Perceived Realistic Threat?

Abstract

Recent massive migrations have brought cultural benefits and social tensions, as locals may perceive threats to their material conditions and values, promoting prejudice against immigrants. This study focuses on material conditions -associated with realistic threats- and proposes a new model examining the effect of identity fusion with Chile on prejudice toward Venezuelan and Peruvian immigrants among Chileans, moderated by perceived realistic threat. Prejudice, a negative attitude toward another group/person(s), comprises cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. Identity fusion is a feeling of connection with a group, where personal and social identities work together, and is a stronger predictor of prejudice towards outgroups than classic social identity measures. However, prior research has included threats in measuring prejudice; hence, this study distinguishes these effects: identity fusion is an ingroup connection, so it would not imply an intergroup prejudice unless there is a threat. Thus, this study hypothesizes that identity fusion with Chile will predict prejudice toward Venezuelan and Peruvian immigrants only under conditions of realistic threat. This model is innovative because it integrates variables typically examined separately: identity fusion, realistic threat, and multidimensional prejudice toward specific outgroups. Chile provides a relevant context given its high immigration rates, while Peruvian and Venezuelan communities represent different immigration arrival patterns: gradual and sudden, respectively, which strengthens the model. The moderator and the remaining variables will be manipulated and measured, respectively. Structural equation modeling will be used for analysis, controlling for alternative explanations (e.g., intergroup contact, social dominance). The results will be available at the conference.