Antecedents and Components of Majority Attitudes toward Multiculturalism in the Netherlands

Seger M. Breugelmans,

Seger M. Breugelmans

Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Fons J.R. Van De Vijver,

Fons J.R. Van De Vijver

Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Seger M. Breugelmans,

Seger M. Breugelmans

Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Fons J.R. Van De Vijver,

Fons J.R. Van De Vijver

Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 15 June 2004

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2004.00177.x

Citations: 93

* Address for correspondence: Seger M. Breugelmans, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected]

Seger M. Breugelmans and Fons J.R. Van de Vijver, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University.

This study was supported by the COS (Center for Intercultural Cooperation) West-Midden Brabant and the Science Shop of Tilburg University.

Read the full text

About

PDF

Tools

Share a link

Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Wechat

Abstract

Les prédicteurs et les composantes des attitudes envers le multiculturalisme ont étéétudies chez 341 Néerlandais tout-venant. Les attitudes relèvent d’une structure unidimensionnelle, mais le niveau d’adhésion au multiculturalisme varie significativement selon les domaines. Le niveau culturel et le fait de vivre en ville avec peu d’immigrés étaient les seules variables positivement corrélées avec l’adhésion au multiculturalisme. Un modèle en pistes causales s’est révélé pertinent, les attitudes et les comportements dépendant des variables psychologiques suivantes; connaissances, satisfaction générale, perspectives d’avenir, désirabilité sociale et perception des normes sociales favorables au multiculturalisme ou en faisant au contraire une menace. Globalement, l’exclusion était désapprouvée par la majorité des Néerlandais, mais le pluralisme culturel nétait pas ressenti comme étant un atout précieux pour leur société, et ils nétaient pas disposés à faire beaucoup d’efforts pour faciliter l’intégration des minorités.

Predictors and components of attitudes toward multiculturalism were studied in 341 native Dutch people. Attitudes were found to have a unidimensional structure, but the level of support for multiculturalism was found to vary significantly over societal domains. Level of education and living in city districts with few non-natives were the only background variables that were (positively) related to support for multiculturalism. A path model, with psychological background variables (knowledge, life satisfaction, life opportunities, perceived social norms about multiculturalism as a threat and support for multiculturalism, and social desirability) predicting attitudes and behavior, showed a good fit. Generally, exclusionist positions were not endorsed by majority Dutch, but cultural pluralism was not seen as a valuable asset of their society, and they are not inclined to put much effort into minority integration.

REFERENCES

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Google Scholar
Arbuckle, J.L. (1999). Amos (Version 4.01) [Computer software]. Chicago, IL: SmallWaters Corp.

Google Scholar
Arends-Tóth, J., & Van de Vijver, F.J.R. (2000). Multiculturalisme: Spanning tussen ideaal en realiteit [Multiculturalism: More an ideal than a reality]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie, 55, 159–168.

Google Scholar
Arends-Tóth, J., & Van de Vijver, F.J.R. (2003). Multiculturalism and acculturation: Views of Dutch and Turkish-Dutch. European Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 249–266.

Google Scholar
Berry, J.W. (1974). Psychological aspects of cultural pluralism: Unity and identity reconsidered. In R. Brislin (Ed.), Topics in culture learning (pp. 17–22). Honolulu, HA: East-West Culture Learning Institute.

Google Scholar
Berry, J.W. (1980). Acculturation as varieties of adaptation. In A. Padilla (Ed.), Acculturation: Theory, models and some new findings (pp. 9–25). Boulder, CO: Westview.

Web of Science®Google Scholar
Berry, J.W. (1984). Multicultural policy in Canada: A social psychological analysis. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 16, 353–370.
10.1037/h0080859
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Berry, J.W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 5–68.
10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01087.x
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Berry, J.W. (2001). A psychology of immigration. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 615–631.
10.1111/0022-4537.00231
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Berry, J.W., & Kalin, R. (1995). Multicultural and ethnic attitudes in Canada: An overview of the 1991 national survey. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 27, 301–320.
10.1037/0008-400X.27.3.301
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Berry, J.W., Kalin, R., & Taylor, D.M. (1977). Multiculturalism and ethnic attitudes in Canada. Ottawa: Ministry of Supply and Services.

Google Scholar
Berry, J.W., & Sam, D. (1997). Acculturation and adaptation. In J.W. Berry, M.H. Segall & C. Kagitcibasi (Eds.), Handbook of cross-cultural psychology (2nd edn., Vol. 3, pp. 291–326). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Google Scholar
Bourhis, R.Y., Moise, L.C., Perreault, S., & Senecal, S. (1997). Toward an Interactive Acculturation Model: A social psychological approach. International Journal of Psychology, 32, 369–386.
10.1080/002075997400629
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Brewer, M.B. (1997). The social psychology of intergroup relations: Can research inform practice? Journal of Social Issues, 53, 197–211.
10.1111/j.1540-4560.1997.tb02440.x
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Brewer, M.B., & Brown, R.J. (1998). Intergroup relations. In D.T. Gilbert, S.T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (Vol. 2, 4th edn., pp. 554–594). New York: McGraw Hill.

Google Scholar
Chryssochoou, X. (2000). Multicultural societies: Making sense of new environments and identities. Journal of Community and Applied Psychology, 10, 343–354.
10.1002/1099-1298(200009/10)10:5<343::AID-CASP593>3.0.CO;2-5
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Citrin, J., Sears, D.O., Muste, C., & Wong, C. (2001). Multiculturalism in American public opinion. British Journal of Political Science, 31, 247–275.
10.1017/S0007123401000102
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Clark, M., Kaufman, S., & Pierce, R.C. (1976). Explorations of acculturation: Toward a model of ethnic identity. Human Organization, 35, 231–238.
10.17730/humo.35.3.0088538376711882
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Eagly, A.H., & Chaiken, S. (1998). Attitude structure and function. In D.T. Gilbert, S.T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 269–322). New York: McGraw Hill.

Google Scholar
Fischer, D.G., & Fick, C. (1993). Measuring social desirability: Short forms of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 53, 417–424.
10.1177/0013164493053002011
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Ho, R. (1990). Multiculturalism in Australia: A survey of attitudes. Human Relations, 43, 259–272.
10.1177/001872679004300304
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Horenczyck, G. (1997). Immigrants’ perceptions of host attitudes and their reconstruction of cultural groups. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 34–38.
10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01088.x
Google Scholar
Jackson, J.S., Brown, K.T., Brown, T.N., & Marks, B. (2001). Contemporary immigration policy orientations among dominant-group members in Western Europe. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 431–456.
10.1111/0022-4537.00222
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Johnson, T., Harkness, J., Mohler, P., Van de Vijver, F.J.R., & Ozcan, Y.Z. (2001). Respondent cultural orientations and survey participation: The effects of individualism and collectivism. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Google Scholar
Joppke, C. (1996). Multiculturalism and immigration: A comparison of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. Theory and Society, 25, 449–550.
10.1007/BF00160674
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Kagitcibasi, C. (1997). Whither multiculturalism? Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 44–49.
10.1080/026999497378494
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Kim, M.S., & Hunter, J.E. (1993). Attitude–behavior relations: A meta-analysis of attitudinal relevance and topic. Journal of Communication, 43, 101–142.
10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01251.x
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Montreuil, A., & Bourhis, R.Y. (2001). Majority acculturations toward “valued” and “devalued” immigrants. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 32, 698–719.
10.1177/0022022101032006004
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Nederhof, A.J. (1985). Methods of coping with social desirability bias: A review. European Journal of Social Psychology, 15, 263–280.
10.1002/ejsp.2420150303
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Pettigrew, T.F. (1988). Integration and pluralism. In P. Katz & D. Taylor (Eds.), Minorities: Community and identity (pp. 51–60). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Google Scholar
Piontkowski, U., Florack, A., Hoelker, P., & Obdrzálek, P. (2000). Predicting acculturation attitudes of dominant and non-dominant groups. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24, 1–26.
10.1016/S0147-1767(99)00020-6
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Ponterotto, J.G., Burkard, A., Rieger, B.P., D’Onofrio, A., Dubuisson, A., Heenehan, M., Millstein, B., Parisi, M., Rath, J.F., & Sax, G. (1995). Development and initial validation of the Quick Discrimination Index (QDI). Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55, 1016–1031.
10.1177/0013164495055006011
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Prins, K.S. (1996). Van “Gastarbeider” tot “Nederlander”: Adaptatie van Marokkanen en Turken in Nederland. [From “Guest Worker” to “Dutch”: Adaptation of Moroccans and Turks in the Netherlands]. PhD Thesis, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

Google Scholar
Prins, K.S., Van Oudenhoven, J.P., & Buunk, B.P. (1996). Integratie van Marokkanen en Turken in Nederland [Integration of Moroccans and Turks in the Netherlands]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie, 51, 245–251.

Google Scholar
Ross, C.E., & Mirowski, J. (1984). Socially-desirable response and acquiescence in a cross-cultural survey of mental health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 25, 189–197.
10.2307/2136668
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Schalk-Soekar, R.G.S., & Van de Vijver, F.J.R. (2002). Attitudes towards multiculturalism among Dutch natives. Manuscript in preparation.

Google Scholar
Simon, R.J., & Lynch, J.P. (1999). A comparative assessment of public opinion toward immigrants and immigration policies. International Migration Review, 33, 455–467.
10.2307/2547704
CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Stanley, L.S. (1996). The development and validation of an instrument to assess attitudes toward cultural diversity and pluralism among preservice physical educators. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 56, 891–897.
10.1177/0013164496056005017
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Strahan, R., & Gerbasi, K.C. (1972). Short versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 191–193.
10.1002/1097-4679(197204)28:2<191::AID-JCLP2270280220>3.0.CO;2-G
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Triandis, H.C., Kashima, Y., Shimada, E., & Villareal, M. (1986). Acculturation indices as a means of confirming cultural differences. International Journal of Psychology, 21, 43–70.
10.1080/00207598608247575
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Van den Berg, R., & Bleichrodt, N. (1996). Personal values and acculturation. In H. Grad, A. Blanco, & Georgas J. (Eds.), Key issues in cross-cultural psychology (pp. 240–250). Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.

Google Scholar
Van de Vijver, F.J.R., & Leung, K. (1997). Methods and data analysis for cross-cultural research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Google Scholar
Van Dick, R., Wagner, U., Adams, C., & Petzel, T. (1997). Einstellungen zur Akkulturation: Erste Evaluation eines Fragebogens an sechs deutschen Stichproben [Attitudes toward acculturation: Initial evaluation of a questionnaire performed on six German samples]. Gruppendynamik, 28, 83–92.

Google Scholar
Van Oudenhoven, J.P., Prins, K.S., & Buunk, B. (1998). Attitudes of minority and majority members toward adaptation of immigrants. European Journal of Social Psychology, 28, 995–1013.
10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(1998110)28:6<995::AID-EJSP908>3.0.CO;2-8
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Van Oudenhoven, J.P., Willemsma, G., & Prins, K.S. (1996). Integratie en assimilatie van Marokkanen, Surinamers en Turken in Nederland [Integration and assimilation of Moroccans, Surinamers, and Turks in the Netherlands]. De Psycholoog, 31, 468–471.

Google Scholar
Ward, C. (1996). Acculturation. In D. Landis & R.S. Bhagat (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural training (2nd edn., pp. 124–147). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Google Scholar
Zagefka, H., & Brown, R. (2002). The relationship between acculturation strategies, relative fit and intergroup relations: Immigrant–majority relations in Germany. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 171–188.
10.1002/ejsp.73
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Zick, A., Wagner, U., Van Dick, R., & Petzel, T. (2001). Acculturation and prejudice in Germany: Majority and minority perspectives. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 541–557.
10.1111/0022-4537.00228
Web of Science®Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume53, Issue3

July 2004

Pages 400-422

Antecedents and Components of Majority Attitudes toward Multiculturalism in the Netherlands

Abstract

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Antecedents and Components of Majority Attitudes toward Multiculturalism in the Netherlands

Abstract

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information