Feel threatened being prejudiced: the role of past experience and proximal threat in shaping adolescents’ Romaphobia

Abstract

This study investigates Serbian adolescents’ attitudes towards the Roma, i.e. Romaphobia. The sample consisted of 687 secondary school students (mean age 17), of which 53% were females. In a survey-based study, we assessed perception of physical threat, quality of previous contact with Roma, and Romaphobia. The findings demonstrate that perceived physical threat entices and supports the emergence of Romaphobia. Moreover, the relationship between past experience with Roma and Romaphobia was fully mediated by perceived proximal threat. The theoretical and educational implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• Romaphobia
• negative experience
• proximal threat
• adolescents