Romaphobia among adolescents : the role of perceived threat, nationalism, and acculturation expectations

Abstract

The purpose of the research presented in this thesis was to gain insight into social-psychological mechanisms that underlie negative attitudes towards the Roma, i.e. Romaphobia, among adolescents. Drawing from the threat theory (Stephan & Stephan, 1996, 2000), we found evidence that the perception of economic and symbolic threat mediates relationships between national in-group attitudes and acculturation preferences, on the one hand, and Romaphobia on the other. Perceived threat to the continued transmission of and support for one’s heritage culture and economic welfare was the basis for nationalistic adolescents’ Romaphobia. Moreover, adolescents who endorsed ethnocentric acculturation strategies, characterized by a relative degree of rejection of Roma’s culture (assimilation), contact with Roma (segregation), or both (marginalization), perceived more threat and Romaphobia. In contrast, youth who favored Roma integration perceived lower levels of threat and more favorable attitudes toward the Roma. This model of relationships appeared to be structurally similar between the Netherlands and Serbia, two countries that clearly differ with respect to minority proportion and status. Explanations are discussed as well as implications for theory and prejudice reduction in diverse intercultural settings.