Motivations attributed to having a social identity and intergroup attitudes

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between motivations attributed to having a Turkish identity and intergroup attitudes in Turkey. the study dealt with the intergroup attitudes towards the Kurds, Europeans, and Syrian refugees in terms of in-group favoritism and perception of threat or conflict. Social identity motivations attributed to having a Turkish identity were self-esteem, distinctiveness, belonging, continuity, and efficacy. One hundred and fifty seven university students participated in the study. They completed the measures of social identity motivations attributed to having a Turkish identity (5), perceived conflict with the Kurds, perceived threat with the Europeans, threat scale for the Syrian refugees, and 2-items for the evaluations of in-and out-groups. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that self-esteem and belonging predicted in-group favoritism while belonging and distinctiveness predicted perceived conflict for the Kurds. the self-esteem predicted in-group favoritism and belonging predicted perceived threat for the Europeans. the self-esteem and belonging predicted in-group favoritism and distinctiveness predicted perceived threat for the Syrian refugees. According to the mediation analysis, perceived conflict mediated the relationship between belonging and in-group favoritism for the Kurds. the results were discussed regarding the relevant literature and context of the study.