The relative deprivation-gratification continuum and the attitudes of South Africans toward immigrants: a test of the V-curve hypothesis.
It has long been established that there is a linear and positive relationship between relative deprivation and prejudice. However, a recent experiment suggests that the converse of relative deprivation, relative gratification, may also be associated with prejudice (S. Guimond & M. Dambrun, 2002). Specifically, the evidence suggests that the usual test for a linear relationship between relative deprivation-gratification and prejudice might conceal the existence of a bilinear relationship. This function, labeled the V-curve hypothesis, predicts that both relative deprivation and relative gratification are associated with higher levels of prejudice. This hypothesis was tested with a representative sample of South Africans (N=1,600). Results provide strong support for the V-curve hypothesis. Furthermore, strength of ethnic identification emerged as a partial mediator for the effect of relative gratification on prejudice.
Dambrun
Michaël
M
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. michael.dambrun@univ-bpclermont.fr
Taylor
Donald M
DM
McDonald
David A
DA
Crush
Jonathan
J
Méot
Alain
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011287:Prejudice; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D011639:Public Opinion; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*