Premium
The Concept of Multiculturalism: A Study Among Dutch Majority Members
Author(s) -
SchalkSoekar Saskia R. G.,
Van de Vijver Fons J. R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00385.x
Subject(s) - acculturation , multiculturalism , social psychology , immigration , psychology , norm (philosophy) , social distance , path analysis (statistics) , political science , pedagogy , law , mathematics , medicine , disease , covid-19 , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , statistics
The current study examined the concept of multiculturalism as seen by 1,285 Dutch majority members, and tested its expected relation with acculturation and intergroup relations aspects. The concepts of multiculturalism and acculturation were unidimensional. Dutch majority members were slightly positive (almost neutral) toward multiculturalism, and saw both its advantages and disadvantages. They preferred immigrants to adapt as much as possible, and they perceived a norm that they should approve the immigrant's way of living. A path model showed that acculturation orientations and intergroup relations aspects (perceived social norms/social distance) predicted multicultural attitudes. Furthermore, multicultural attitudes predicted contact with and knowledge about immigrants. Finally, level of education and perceived opportunities in society were positively associated with multicultural attitudes.