National identification, perceived threat, and dehumanization as antecedents of negative attitudes toward immigrants in Australia and Canada

• Published in: Journal of applied social psychology Vol. 43; no. S2; pp. E156 - E165
• Main Authors: Louis, Winnifred R., Esses, Victoria M., Lalonde, Richard N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Emotions; Noncitizens; Threats
• ISSN: 0021-9029; 1559-1816
• DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12044

The interplay of nationalistic threat perceptions, dehumanizing beliefs and intergroup emotions, and anti‐immigrant sentiment is analyzed in a cross‐national context with Australian (N = 124) and Canadian (N = 126) samples. National identification was linked to negative attitudes toward immigrants indirectly, via perceptions of immigrants as being in threatening zero‐sum relationships with citizens. In turn, perceived zero‐sum threat was associated with dehumanizing beliefs and emotions about immigrants. Significant baseline differences in hostility were observed across the samples, but the relationships among the variables were not moderated by participants' nationality. The study contributes to the literature examining how negative emotions and attitudes may serve to legitimize intergroup competition.