Conference Presentations by Jessica Gale
Extending Gabriel Mugny’s work on minority influence, this paper integrates models of minority in... more Extending Gabriel Mugny’s work on minority influence, this paper integrates models of minority influence with categorization and social identification processes. By doing so, we aim to understand how members of a national majority become willing to actively challenge political authority by showing solidarity with the refugee minority. In an experimental study (N = 112, Swiss nationals) participants read a minority position (pro-welcoming appeal), followed by measures of support for particular policies in favor of refugees in Switzerland. A 2 x 2 + control design was used in which the intergroup context was organised as a function of categorical differentiation of the source of minority influence (Swiss national vs. refugee) and normative differentiation of the pro-welcoming message (assimilation vs. multicultural norms of integration). Results showed a cross-categorization effect whereby categorical and normative differentiation interacted to predict solidarity: Conditions in which the Swiss source mobilized multicultural arguments and the refugee source mobilized assimilationist ones were most effective. Furthermore, influence was stronger for higher national identifiers than for lower identifiers. Our findings underline the importance of integrating dynamics of intergroup communication in minority influence studies.
Papers by Jessica Gale
In 2022, Europe experienced unprecedented citizen mobilizations to help Ukrainian refugees. Based... more In 2022, Europe experienced unprecedented citizen mobilizations to help Ukrainian refugees. Based on two parallel lines of scholarship, we examined individual prosocial dispositions and superordinate identities related to intentions to help Ukrainians. Employing a French-speaking student sample in Belgium (N = 374), in Study 1, we showed that dis- positional prosociality and European identification were both positively related to intentions to help Ukrainians. An interac- tion qualified these main effects, so that highly prosocial European identifiers were particularly willing to help. With a nationwide quota sample of the French-speaking population in Belgium (N = 371), in Study 2, we identified two processes mediating the relationship of dispositional prosociality and European identification with intentions to help Ukrainians. On the one hand, dispositional prosociality was positively related to empathy with Ukrainians, which in turn predicted participants' helping intentions....
International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 2019
The spiral of silence theory posits that when a given political position comes to be seen as the ... more The spiral of silence theory posits that when a given political position comes to be seen as the majority opinion, perceivers holding alternative views will feel pressured to become silent, thereby contributing to the growing public decline of the minority camp. Testing the theory across 15 countries (N = 195,194) with data taken from the European Social Survey (2002–2016), we examined whether recently rising right-wing populist positions silenced supranational opinions or whether, on the contrary, they were silenced by established norms of democratic governance and social inclusiveness. The proposed modeling overcomes two limitations of prior research by using a macroscopic and dynamic approach that allows the detection of the “spiraling” normative conformity process in nationally representative samples.
Journal of Experimental Political Science
An increasing number of states permit dual citizenship, but there are public concerns about divid... more An increasing number of states permit dual citizenship, but there are public concerns about divided loyalties of dual citizens which might lead to intolerance of their political rights. We propose and test whether these concerns depend on the emotional versus instrumental reasons immigrants express for acquiring their second, host society citizenship. Using a survey experiment on a nationally representative sample of native-born Dutch, we find that emotional (vs. instrumental) reasons for a second citizenship lead to higher perceived host society loyalty, which is related to greater political tolerance of dual citizens. Instrumental reason for dual citizenship leads to higher perceived loyalty to the country of origin; however, this is not related to political tolerance of such dual citizens. Implications for theory and society are considered.
Scientific Reports, 2022
The Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15th, 2019 was the deadliest incident of mass violence... more The Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15th, 2019 was the deadliest incident of mass violence in New Zealand for over a century. The present study investigated the psychological impact of these terrorist attacks targeting a specific minority community on the psychological functioning of the wider New Zealand population by examining changes in terrorism anxiety, sense of community, psychological distress, and wellbeing. Data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey (N = 47,951; age range 18–99 years, M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 62% female) collected across a year, including approximately 6 months following the terrorist attack, was used. Regression discontinuity analyses found a statistically significant increase in terrorism anxiety and sense of community following the attacks, yet counterintuitively, no significant change in psychological distress or wellbeing. These findings provide unique insight into the psychological implications of politically motivated violence for the...
Welfare State Legitimacy in Times of Crisis and Austerity, 2020
Documentation of three studies and a pilot are included in these files. Study 1 was correlational... more Documentation of three studies and a pilot are included in these files. Study 1 was correlational (N = 141), study 2 and 3 were experimental (N = 202; 164), and the pilot was correlational (N = 65). The purpose of study 1 was to test whether the difference between national majorities and cultural minorities (asymmetric groups) in support for multiculturalism (based on collective justice) is moderated by beliefs in individual responsibility (a key dimension of individual justice). Measures used for hypothesis testing include: Belief in individual responsibility (IndResp, 4 items; 2 4 reversed), Support for multicultural ideology (CDI_M, 3 items), Support for multicultural policy (CDP_M, 4 items). Additional measures in the dataset include: National identity (IDCH, 4 items), Cultural identity (IDOrig, 4 items), Social dominance orientation (SDO, 6 items; 2 4 6 reversed), Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA, 3 items). Raw data is provided ("Study1_Orig") as well as prepared data on which final analyses were conducted ("Study1_Prep"). The syntax and questionnaire are also provided. Participants were recruited online using a snowball technique. While the online data showed that 286 people accessed the online questionnaire, only 141 began to fill it out. All were residents of Switzerland. The purpose of study 2 was to replicate results of study 1 and to disentangle three key features of these asymmetric groups: High vs. low status, native vs. immigrant, and numerical majority vs. minority. A 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design was used. The same measures used for hypothesis testing in study 1 are included in study 2. Manipulation checks are also included: Perceived privilege (4 items; 2 4 reversed), Recall and understanding of the text (6 items divided into pairs according to conditions), Easiness/Difficulty of the exercise (2 items). Raw data, the prepared data on which analyses were conducted, the syntax, and the eight experimental questionnaires are provided (all entitled "Study 2 [...]"). Students from a Psychology course a [...]
Personality and Individual Differences, 2022
This paper examines the intriguing possibility that higher national identification commonly found... more This paper examines the intriguing possibility that higher national identification commonly found among political conservatives can make them more, rather than less, accepting towards immigrants and minorities. This possibility is based on the theoretical reasoning that national attachment, net of national narcissism, provides a secure and stable sense of national belonging that forms a basis for a more open attitude towards outgroups. In two studies using three nationally representative samples from Germany and Netherlands (N = 4440), we show that stronger political conservatism predicts more positive outgroup attitudes and higher tolerance through stronger national attachment, specifically when partialling out national narcissism. These findings indicate that higher national identification from politically more conservative individuals can provide a confident basis for positive outgroup attitudes.
Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important com... more Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors that associated with people reported adopting public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the...
Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis which called for two crucial modes of social regulation: social... more The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis which called for two crucial modes of social regulation: social control and social solidarity. In the present pre-registered study, we examine how the perceived non-compliance with health measures relates to attitudes towards these modes of social regulation, as well as to the role played by the perception of disintegrated and disregulated society (anomie). Using data from an online cross-sectional survey conducted in Belgium in April 2020 (N = 717), results show that the causal attribution of the crisis to insufficient compliance was differentially associated with support for social control and social solidarity behaviors. Specifically, greater attribution to insufficient compliance was associated with a perceived breakdown in the social fabric (disintegration), which explained stronger support for social control and fewer solidaritybased actions. Perceived disregulation, conversely, was associated with less support for social control and more social solidarity. Therefore, the perception of the pandemic and associated perceived anomie tend to polarize citizens' attitudes towards these two modes of social regulation. In this way, prosocial behaviors might be inhibited by communications that attribute the pandemic's causes to incivility. Other implications of our findings for the social psychological literature on communities' reactions to the pandemic are discussed.
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Contemporary political philosophers debate the degree to which multiculturalism, with its emphasi... more Contemporary political philosophers debate the degree to which multiculturalism, with its emphasis on collective justice principles, is compatible with Western liberal societies’ core ideologies based on individual justice principles. Taking on a social psychological perspective, the present study offers a cross-national, multilevel examination of the asymmetric compatibility hypothesis, according to which majority and ethnic minority groups differ in the association between support for individualized immigration policies (based on individual justice principles) and support for multiculturalism (based on collective justice principles). Using data from Round 7 of the European Social Survey (N = 36,732), we compared minority and majority attitudes across 1) countries with stronger versus weaker equality policies at the national level (a Migrant Integration Policy Index [MIPEX] sub-dimension indicator), and 2) Western and post-communist European countries. In line with the asymmetric c...
Social and Personality Psychology Compass
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
European Journal of Social Psychology
Immigrant naturalization is a rite of passage, making assimilationist attitudes particularly pron... more Immigrant naturalization is a rite of passage, making assimilationist attitudes particularly pronounced among host nationals. Three experimental studies investigate whether heritage culture maintenance violate expectations that citizenship should be deserved by proving strong attachment to the host nation (i.e., neoliberal communitarianism). Study 1 (N = 293) demonstrates that naturalization applicants’ high degree of heritage culture maintenance impairs application evaluations. Perceived attachment to the host nation and citizenship deservingness mediated this effect. Study 2 ( N = 220) replicates results across two national contexts and reveals that heritage culture maintenance impairs evaluations only among naturalization applicants from devalued countries. Study 3 (N = 117) manipulates attachment to the host nation and shows that perceived citizenship deservingness mediates the negative effects of naturalization applicants’ low attachment to the host nation on application evaluations. Overall, assimilationist attitudes among host nationals are best explained by the combination of neoliberal and communitarian criteria of evaluation
Journal of Social Issues
Multiculturalism is a hotly debated issue in today's global arena. Much of the controversy arises... more Multiculturalism is a hotly debated issue in today's global arena. Much of the controversy arises due to different understandings of the term in public and political discourse. We argue that multiculturalism has three core components-diversity, ideology and policyand that heterogeneous cultural groups in multicultural societies are ultimately seeking social justice, but in different ways. Moving beyond the broad social science research to the influences and impacts of multiculturalism within psychological studies, we introduce the concept of normative multiculturalism and propose an integrative framework, presenting multiculturalism as a contextual variable and examining its impact in terms of intergroup relations and subjective well-being. We also consider how multiculturalism at the societal level can be differentially experienced by immigrants and members of the receiving community. Finally, we discuss strategies for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of multiculturalism, reconciling differing justice conceptions, and enhancing positive outcomes for the wider society.
Political Psychology, 2020
Many countries seek to specifically attract talented migrants in order to match the needs of nati... more Many countries seek to specifically attract talented migrants in order to match the needs of national economies. In addition to the well-known intergroup antagonism between natives and immigrants, such immigration policies targeting talented migrants imply differentiation within the immigrant group, using normative criteria to distinguish desirable and economically useful immigrants from undesirable ones. Based on European Social Survey data (Round 7, N = 9856) comprised of national citizens from six multinational countries, we show that national majorities support individualized, "cherry picking" immigration policies to a greater degree than historical national minorities, and that this support is associated with national majorities' stronger sense of identification with the country and its individualistic norms. We thereby conceptualize a novel facet of multiculturalism based on individual justice principles that is rarely at the forefront of research on immigration and multiculturalism.
International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 2019
The spiral of silence theory (Noelle-Neumann, 1993) posits that when a given political position c... more The spiral of silence theory (Noelle-Neumann, 1993) posits that when a given political position comes to be seen as the majority opinion, perceivers holding alternative views will feel pressured to become silent, thereby contributing to the growing public decline of the minority camp. Testing the theory across 15 countries (N = 195,194) with data taken from the European Social Survey (2002¬–2016), we examined whether recently rising right-wing populist positions silenced supranational opinions or whether, on the contrary, they were silenced by established norms of democratic governance and social inclusiveness. The proposed modeling overcomes two limitations of prior research by using a macroscopic and dynamic approach that allows the detection of the ‘spiraling’ normative conformity process in nationally representative samples.
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2019
The degree to which classical liberal, individualist principles of Western societies are seen as ... more The degree to which classical liberal, individualist principles of Western societies are seen as (in)compatible with multiculturalism and minority rights is a key issue in diverse societies. Classical liberalism is grounded in individual justice principles, suggesting that individuals are responsible for their own fate and should be treated according to their personal characteristics, regardless of group membership. Multiculturalism, in turn, is grounded in collective justice principles, recognizing cultural differences and seeking greater equality between groups. The present research investigates how asymmetric group membership in dominant and subordinate groups shapes perceived compatibility between classical liberalism and multiculturalism. A correlational study (N = 141) first shows that cultural minorities perceive greater compatibility between the two justice principles compared to native majorities. A second (N = 202) and third (N = 164) experimental study involving the description of a fictitious society manipulated perspective-taking as a function of social status, cultural origin and numerical size of groups. The findings show that respondents taking the perspective of immigrant groups perceive greater compatibility between classical liberalism and multiculturalism as an abstract ideology compared to a native perspective, and that a low status perspective leads to greater compatibility between classical liberalism and multiculturalism as a concrete policy compared to a high status perspective. Overall, these studies suggest that membership in subordinate groups generally increases perceived compatibility between individual and collective forms of justice. Implications associated with growing civic integrationist policies in Europe are discussed.
Extending Gabriel Mugny’s work on minority influence, this paper integrates models of minority in... more Extending Gabriel Mugny’s work on minority influence, this paper integrates models of minority influence with categorization and social identification processes. By doing so, we aim to understand how members of a national majority become willing to actively challenge political authority by showing solidarity with the refugee minority. In an experimental study (N = 112, Swiss nationals) participants read a minority position (pro-welcoming appeal), followed by measures of support for particular policies in favor of refugees in Switzerland. A 2 x 2 + control design was used in which the intergroup context was organised as a function of categorical differentiation of the source of minority influence (Swiss national vs. refugee) and normative differentiation of the pro-welcoming message (assimilation vs. multicultural norms of integration). Results showed a cross-categorization effect whereby categorical and normative differentiation interacted to predict solidarity: Conditions in which the Swiss source mobilized multicultural arguments and the refugee source mobilized assimilationist ones were most effective. Furthermore, influence was stronger for higher national identifiers than for lower identifiers. Our findings underline the importance of integrating dynamics of intergroup communication in minority influence studies.
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Conference Presentations by Jessica Gale
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