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How victim sensitivity affects our attitudes and behaviour towards immigrants
Lucas John Emmanuel Köhler1, Mario Gollwitzer1
1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|January 21, 2024
Summary
Victim sensitivity, the tendency to feel victimized, predicts anti-immigration attitudes. This connection is partly explained by an increased fear of exploitation, even when controlling for political beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Political Psychology
Background:
- Victim sensitivity, defined as the sensitivity to being a victim of injustice, is a personality trait.
- Prior research suggests a link between individual differences and intergroup attitudes, including anti-immigration sentiment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between victim sensitivity and anti-immigration attitudes and behaviors.
- To determine if victim sensitivity predicts anti-immigration sentiment independently of political orientation and ideology.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted: a longitudinal study (N=1038), a computerized online experiment (N=299), and a laboratory experiment (N=178).
- Data collection involved surveys and experimental manipulations to assess victim sensitivity, anti-immigration attitudes, and fear of exploitation.
Main Results:
- Victim sensitivity positively predicted anti-immigration attitudes and behaviors across all three studies, even after accounting for political orientation and ideology.
- A heightened fear of exploitation was identified as a significant mediator in the relationship between victim sensitivity and anti-immigration attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Victim sensitivity is a relevant predictor of anti-immigration attitudes and behaviors.
- Fear of exploitation plays a crucial role in mediating this relationship, highlighting psychological underpinnings beyond political ideology.
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