The role of majority attitudes towards out-group in the perception of the acculturation strategies of immigrants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine host group members ‘towards immigrants’ acculturation strategy preferences and the relationship between these attitudes and the level of prejudice towards immigrants. A questionnaire containing different prejudice scales was administered to 160 Italian participants living in Rome. In addition respondents were presented with vignettes depicting different acculturation strategies: Assimilation, Integration, Separation, or Marginalization. Respondents received a vignette each describing only one acculturation strategy. Results showed that prejudice towards immigrants affected the evaluation of acculturation strategies. The more prejudice the respondent was, the more negative was his or her attitude towards Separation and Marginalization and the more positive was his or her attitude towards Assimilation