Pilipović, Tina.
(2016).
European and
national identity and perception of threat as determinants of social distance and aggressive behavioral tendencies towards refugees.
Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology.
[mentor Löw, Ajana].
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of European and national identity, as well as the perception of threat, in explaining social distance and aggressive behavioural tendencies towards refugees in adolescents. In light of social identity theory, revised threat theory and the context of the current refugee “crisis” in the European Union, we hypothesized that the perception of threat will significantly predict social distance and aggressive behavioural tendencies towards refugees, and that this correlation will be moderated by national and European identity, respectively. The participants in the study were third year students of 2 secondary schools in Zagreb (N=278). The questionnaire that was used consisted of realistic and symbolic threat to the EU scales, national and European identity scales, social distance scale, sociodemographic questions and a paragraph from a news article describing an attack on a refugee shelter, as well as items which measured the approval of such attacks. The results partially confirm the predicted hypotheses. Participants that perceive the refugees as more of a threat to the EU have shown more negative attitudes towards refugees when measured by either criterion variable, while participants who identify more with their nation, and less with Europe, show a higher level of social distance. European identity significantly moderates the relation between the threat to the EU and approval of attack on refugees. The correlation between the threat and the approval of attacks is stronger in those with a higher national identity.
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Statistics
Statistics