Predictors of ''The last acceptable racism'': Group threats and public attitudes toward Gypsies and Travellers

Paul Hutchison*, Raluca Chihade, Andrei A. Puiu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Prejudice against Gypsies/Travellers is prevalent in the United Kingdom and elsewhere but there is a lack of research investigating the underlying factors. The present research examined the relationships between different types of intergroup threats and their antecedents and U.K residents' attitudes toward Gypsies/Travellers. Regression analyses confirmed that negative stereotypes, symbolic threats, and intergroup anxiety predicted attitudes, whereas multicultural ideology endorsement, ingroup identification, realistic threats, and intergroup anxiety predicted support for Gypsy/Traveller group rights. Moreover, multicultural ideology endorsement predicted support for group rights indirectly through realistic threats, whereas negative stereotypes predicted attitudes indirectly through symbolic threats and intergroup anxiety and predicted support for group rights indirectly through realistic threats and intergroup anxiety. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at reducing what is often defined as "the last acceptable racism."

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)237-247
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Applied Social Psychology
Volume48
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • INTERGROUP CONTACT THEORY
  • YOUNG PEOPLES ATTITUDES
  • CROSS-GROUP FRIENDSHIPS
  • BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS
  • OUTGROUP ATTITUDES
  • GROUP VARIABILITY
  • PREJUDICE
  • ANXIETY
  • MUSLIMS
  • IDENTIFICATION

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