Hate crime towards minoritized groups increases as they increase in sized-based rank

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Sociology
• Demography

Background:

• Global migration leads to increasing diversity within communities.
• Existing research often links intergroup dynamics to group stereotypes.
• The role of relative group size in intergroup relations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and test the group reference dependence hypothesis.
• To examine how the relative size of minority groups influences discrimination and attitudes.
• To understand the impact of demographic change on local intergroup dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of hate crime data in US counties (1990-2010).
• Examination of public attitudes in the United States and United Kingdom over two decades.
• Statistical modeling to assess the effect of group rank, controlling for size, growth rate, and other factors.

Main Results:

• Minority groups (Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, Arab) face increased hate crimes and negative attitudes as their size rank changes.
• The "rank effect" on discrimination and attitudes is significant, independent of absolute group size or growth rate.
• Findings support the group reference dependence hypothesis, showing relational context matters.

Conclusions:

• Intergroup attitudes and behaviors are not solely determined by stereotypes but are influenced by relative group positioning.
• Demographic shifts and changing group ranks can predict changes in intergroup relations and potential coalitional structures.
• The study provides a novel framework for understanding discrimination in diverse societies.