Ethnic Categorization: The Role of Epistemic Motivation, Prejudice, and Perceived Threat

Abstract

In this study we first examine how host nationals (i.e., Italians) categorize immigrants; second, we look into the roles played by estimation of size and composition of immigrant population, perceived threat, prejudice, and need for cognitive closure in that process. In the first part of the study, participants responded to questionnaires measuring the variables just mentioned, including an estimation of which immigrant group was the largest in Italy. In the second part of the study, 96 photographs of male faces from 16 immigrant groups were shown to participants (N = 195). They were asked to identify the country of origin of each person in the photographs. Results showed that perceived threat enhanced the effect of prejudice and need for cognitive closure in the process of ethnic categorization. Individuals with a high need for cognitive closure and prejudice toward ethnic groups classified more immigrants as members of the group estimated as being the largest in their country when they perceived immigrants as a threat. The implications of outgroup overclassification for prejudice against immigrants are discussed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by a grant obtained from the National Council of Research in Italy 2002-2003. We thank the Editor Leonard Newman and anonymous reviewers for their useful comments.

Notes

Note. The alpha values are presented in parentheses in diagonal. N = 195.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

Note. NCC = need for cognitive closure.

Note. (1) and (2) = high prejudice, high NCC versus high prejudice, low NCC; (1) and (3) = high prejudice, high NCC versus low prejudice, high NCC; (1) and (4) = high prejudice, high NCC versus low prejudice, low NCC; (2) and (3) = high prejudice, low NCC versus low prejudice, high NCC; (3) and (4) = low prejudice, high NCC versus low prejudice, low NCC.