Factors affecting attitudes toward migrants-An evolutionary approach.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Psychology
• Sociology
• Demography

Background:

• Migration is a fundamental aspect of human history, influencing survival through cultural exchange and preventing inbreeding.
• Previous research on migration's evolutionary perspective has primarily focused on animal species.
• Understanding human attitudes toward migrants requires exploring potential evolutionary underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolutionary roots of human attitudes toward migrants.
• To analyze factors influencing contemporary attitudes towards migration.
• To connect modern migration attitudes with ancestral human behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the European Social Survey, encompassing 83,734 participants.
• Employed ordinal mixed models to analyze attitudes toward migrants.
• Examined demographic and socio-economic factors influencing migration attitudes.

Main Results:

• Men exhibit more restrictive attitudes toward migration than women, with attitudes becoming more restrictive with age and presence of children.
• Skepticism towards migrants increases when they differ in ethnicity or originate from poorer countries.
• Higher education and increased religiousness correlate with more positive attitudes, particularly towards ethnically diverse migrants from poorer nations.

Conclusions:

• Contemporary attitudes toward migration are likely influenced by evolutionary factors, reflecting both historical conflicts and survival benefits.
• Both restrictive and open attitudes towards migrants can be understood from an evolutionary standpoint.
• The study highlights the complex interplay of evolutionary predispositions and socio-cultural factors in shaping migration attitudes.