Explaining majority members’ acculturation preferences for minority members: A mediation model

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to integrate processes described in the literature on acculturation, stereotype content, and intergroup threat. Spanish majority members filled out questionnaires about their views of Moroccan immigrants (Study 1) and Ecuadorian immigrants (Study 2). They reported their perception of the immigrants’ endorsement of culture maintenance and adoption, their preferences for immigrants to maintain the original culture and adopt the host culture, their positive stereotypes about immigrants, and perceptions of threat. Results showed that ‘perceived culture adoption’ had an effect on ‘stereotypes’, which in turn had an effect on ‘perceived threat’, which in turn had an effect on ‘preference for culture maintenance’ (Studies 1 and 2) and ‘preference for culture adoption’ (Study 1). Moreover, results confirmed that there were significant indirect effects of the majority's acculturation perceptions on majority members’ acculturation preferences, yielding further support that ‘stereotypes’ and ‘perceived threat’ are important mediators in the process. Stereotypes and perceived threat were both consequences of majority members’ acculturation perceptions and predictors of majority members’ acculturation preferences.