International Journal of Education and Psychological Research

(Print and Online Peer Reviewed Journal)


Print - ISSN: 2349 - 0853
e - ISSN: 2279 - 0179

VOLUME 5 - ISSUE 2

(June 2016)

Prejudice towards Culturally Similar-Dissimilar Immigrants: An Empirical Investigation of Intergroup Threat Theory in Assam


Authors: Rashbha Dochania

Pages: 106-111

Abstract:

This study sought to investigate whether the Integrated Threat Theory (ITT) of prejudice (Stephan & Stephan, 1996) explains prejudice towards Bangladeshi and Nepali immigrants in Assam. The theory suggests that the factors, inter-group anxiety, realistic threats, symbolic threats and negative stereotypes, affect prejudice. This research also pursued to measure perceived similarity between Assamese and Bangladeshi immigrants. Multicultural attitude scale was also used as a predictor of prejudice. The sample consisted of 74 undergraduate students studying in various colleges of Guwahati (the most developed city in all of Assam). A questionnaire was issued to the participants in order to establish how they feel (perception) or have felt, interacting with immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal. Various scales were used to ascertain this information. Simple linear regression and independent sample t-test were conducted. Findings indicated that prejudice was high for Bangladeshi immigrants, for Nepali immigrants however, prejudice was found to be low. Also inter-group anxiety and stereotypes predicted prejudice only for Bangladeshi immigrants, none of the factors of ITT predicted prejudice for Nepali immigrants. Analysis on perceived similarity indicated no similarity between Assamese and Bangladeshi immigrants. On multicultural attitude scale the participants scored high on Separation as a preferred acculturation strategy for Bangladeshi immigrants. In case of Nepali immigrants, participants scored high on integration, separation and Multicultural as a Benefit.