Roma people, being the largest ethnic minority in Europe, continue to experience prejudice and structural discrimination. Moreover, there is low participation in Roma collective action and allies' solidarity-based actions. This pre-registered experimental research examines on samples from non-Roma population in Spain how social class, discrimination awareness, and group efficacy predict prejudice towards Roma and non-Roma participation in solidarity-based actions as allies in addition to test the role of intergroup emotions on those effects. In Study 1 (N = 870) social class and discrimination awareness were manipulated. Results showed that individuals assigned to the low social class condition exhibited more prejudice towards Roma in terms of stereotypes, emotions and discriminatory behaviors. Moreover, discrimination awareness condition indirectly predicted more participation in pro-Roma solidarity-based actions through increased outrage about about the situation of Roma. Study 2 (N = 1,000) confirmed the effect of social class on prejudice. Further, it showed two different paths for predicting solidarity-based actions: discrimination awareness (high vs. low) predicted higher participation in solidarity-based actions indirectly via empathy towards Roma people and outrage towards about the situation of Roma, whereas group efficacy (high vs. low) predicted participation in solidarity-based actions through hope in relation to the situation of Roma and empathy towards Roma. This experimental research highlights the need to address the role of Roma social class as a crucial factor in understanding prejudice and confirms the discrimination (via outrage and empathy) and efficacy (via hope) routes for promoting solidarity-based actions participation to support Roma rights and promote social equity.

This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of the acculturation process within Polish, opposite sex, nuclear families residing in Spain. Havighurst's developmental goals associated with life stages, the Relative Acculturation Extended Model (RAEM), and the theory of family loyalties provided a theoretical framework for a qualitative multiple case study. The research involved 19 families of Polish or partially Polish origin (with 44 participants in total: 23 second and "1.5 generation" children aged 10-18, 19 mothers, and two fathers). Data collection methods included semi-structured individual interviews and participatory observation. The data analysis utilized Template Analysis, which is an approach rooted in interpretative phenomenological analysis, using the theoretical frame (template) in this case devised on the life areas outlined in the RAEM. According to mothers' retrospective narratives about their migration experience, the developmental stage they were in at the time of arrival played a significant role in the acculturation process for Polish mothers. The findings also suggest that adolescents, especially those from the second generation of migrants, encounter a significant acculturation gap while managing developmental tasks linked to achieving autonomy, while experiencing a strong sense of family loyalty. Such results hold potential significance for informing therapeutic interventions aimed at supporting immigrant families.

Acculturation has been conceptualized as a bidirectional process in which both minority and majority groups undergo cultural changes as a result of intergroup contact. However, most studies have focused on the acculturation of minority groups, neglecting the analysis of changes occurring within the majority population. This study examines the acculturation of native Spaniards, specifically their adoption and preference for adoption of cultural elements from people of Moroccan origin. An adapted version of the Relative Acculturation Extended Model (RAEM) was used, distinguishing between real and ideal planes and between peripheral and central life domains. The role of contact quality and diversity ideologies (multiculturalism and intercultural sensitivity) was also analysed. A total of 361 native Spaniards (53.4% women) completed an online questionnaire. Results showed that scores were higher in peripheral than in central domains, and in the ideal than in the real plane, although absolute levels were generally low, especially in central domains. Interaction analyses revealed significant two-way interactions between contact quality and multiculturalism in peripheral domains of the real plane and central domains of the ideal plane. Simple effects indicated that contact quality was positively associated with cultural adoption in peripheral domains at moderate and high levels of multiculturalism, and with preferences for adoption in central domains only at high levels of multiculturalism. These findings expand current understanding of majority acculturation and suggest lower resistance to the adoption of minority cultural elements in peripheral than in central domains, particularly when contact quality is accompanied by multicultural orientations.

The aim of this study was to explore the Latino American asylum seekers’ acculturation preferences in Spain and their relationship with psychosocial variables (stereotypes, emotions, quality of contact, perceived discrimination and social support), differentiating between public and private domains of the Relative Acculturation Extended Model (RAEM). Ninety-eight asylum seekers (44.9% females) answered a questionnaire. Results show that they prefer assimilation in public domains and integration in private domains, showed positive stereotypes and emotions towards Spaniards, perceived a pleasant contact, a low level of discrimination, and moderate-high social support. Different significant predictors emerged: emotions and family support (in public domains) and family support (in private domains) for maintenance preferences; and competence and quality of contact (in public domains) and friends support (in private domains) for adoption preferences.

The aim of this study was to analyze the perceptions and acculturation preferences of teachers toward young Moroccans and Romanians using quantitative and qualitative methodology. The quantitative study involved 181 teachers from Spanish public schools (56% female) who evaluated young Moroccans (N = 101) and Romanians (N = 80). In the qualitative study, focus groups and interviews were conducted with 29 teachers who gave their opinions about young Moroccans (17 teachers) and Romanians (12 teachers). In the quantitative study, it is perceived that young Moroccans adopt fewer Spanish customs (vs. Romanians), and Romanians maintain less their culture of origin (vs. Moroccans) and adopt more Spanish customs. Teachers prefer Moroccans to maintain less their own culture (vs. Romanians). The qualitative study shows a tendency towards intergroup homogenization, although with differences. Among young Moroccans, gender differences are perceived (girls adopt more Spanish culture), while young Romanians maintain less their customs (preferring that they maintain more) and adopt more Spanish customs (vs. Moroccans). Teachers highlight the importance of socioeconomic inequalities between Moroccans and Spaniards (vs. cultural differences), and the assimilation of young Romanians, perceived as similar to Spaniards.

The Roma-an ethnic minority group in Europe-continues to face high levels of discrimination. This research explores how the quality of contact between Roma and non-Roma is associated with collective action participation for Roma rights in Spain. It examines non-Roma as potential allies (Study 1; N = 239) and Roma (Study 2; N = 259), while considering the roles of social class, social identification (Roma and multiculturalist identities) and perceived discrimination in this process. Study 1 found that for non-Roma, high-quality contact with Roma, particularly with those attributed to a low social class, was related to non-Roma collective action both directly and indirectly through the high perception of discrimination and multiculturalist identity. However, the results of Study 2 with the Roma sample indicated that the quality of contact with non-Roma was associated with a lower perception of discrimination towards Roma, which in turn was related to lower intention to participate in collective action. Nevertheless, the quality of contact was associated with higher Roma intention to participate in collective action through increased multiculturalist identity, counteracting the sedative effects of contact. These findings emphasize the importance of social class, identity and perceived discrimination when examining the relationship between contact and collective action.

Previous research showed that majority group members' perceptions of how minority groups acculturate are associated with their acculturation preferences. However, these studies have focused exclusively on traditionally devalued immigrants and have not examined the potential mediator role of emotions in the association between acculturation perceptions and preferences. The current research aimed to address these gaps by comparing the acculturation perceptions and preferences toward devalued vs. valued immigrants in two different countries and testing whether intergroup emotions mediate their association. We evaluated the perceptions and preferences for maintaining the original culture and adopting the majority (host) culture as well as the positive and negative intergroup emotions in two different contexts: in Mexico toward Honduran and US immigrants, and in Spain toward Moroccan and British immigrants. Using convenience samples in Mexico (Study 1) and Spain (Study 2), we conducted MANOVAs to analyze the different evaluations toward valued and devalued immigrants, and mediation analyses to clarify whether host country nationals' perceptions of how immigrants are acculturating could be related to their preferences for immigrants' acculturation via emotions. Results showed that valued immigrants were perceived but also preferred to adopt the majority culture more than devalued immigrants in both contexts. Valued immigrants were also perceived to maintain their culture more than devalued immigrants in Mexico, but the opposite happened in Spain. Mexicans preferred more maintenance among devalued immigrants, whereas Spaniards preferred more maintenance among valued immigrants. In both contexts, participants experienced more intense positive and negative emotions toward devalued (vs. valued) immigrants, and positive (but not negative) intergroup emotions mediated the positive association between the perception of adoption and the preference for maintenance. Taken together, these findings in two different countries are relevant to find commonalities or discrepancies depending on the context and groups analyzed, which may point to relevant factors for understanding the processes studied. We discuss the implications of these findings and the fact that devalued immigrants were perceived and preferred to adopt less than valued immigrants. Our findings can be applied in intervention programs that reflect immigrants' efforts to adopt the host culture, which may lead to more positive feelings toward them and a preference for them to maintain their culture.

Drawing upon insights from 2 empirical qualitative studies conducted within the framework of the Relative Acculturation Extended Model (RAEM), this paper proposes modifications to the model to better suit qualitative research inquiries into migrant acculturation experiences. Firstly, it highlights the interconnectedness of various psychosocial domains in migrants' lives. Secondly, it challenges the distinction between public and private domains embedded in the model, arguing instead for an approach that recognises the dual nature of each domain, encompassing both public and private aspects. Thirdly, the authors suggest integrating values as transversal elements present across all domains, rather than treating them as a separate domain. These 3 specific modifications allow for a more nuanced understanding of acculturation processes, enabling researchers to capture the complexity of migrants' experiences more comprehensively than the original version of the model. By emphasising flexibility and adaptability, the enhanced RAEM provides a useful framework for qualitative investigations into acculturation phenomena, facilitating deeper insights into the lived realities of migrant populations.

The aim of this study was to analyze the acculturation perceptions and preferences of teachers toward young Moroccans and Romanians using quantitative and qualitative methodology. The quantitative study involved 181 teachers from Spanish public schools (56% female) who evaluated young Moroccans (N = 101) and Romanians (N = 80). In the qualitative study, focus groups and interviews were conducted with 29 teachers who gave their opinions about young Moroccans (17 teachers) and Romanians (12 teachers). In the quantitative study, teachers perceive that young Moroccans adopt fewer Spanish customs (vs. Romanians), and Romanians maintain less their culture of origin (vs. Moroccans) and adopt more Spanish customs. Teachers prefer Moroccans to maintain less their own culture (vs. Romanians). The qualitative study shows a tendency towards intergroup homogenization, although with differences. Among young Moroccans, gender differences are perceived (girls adopt more Spanish culture), while young Romanians maintain less their customs (preferring that they maintain more) and adopt more Spanish customs (vs. Moroccans). Teachers highlight the importance of socioeconomic inequalities between Moroccans and Spaniards (vs. cultural differences), and the assimilation of young Romanians, perceived as similar to Spaniards.

A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze the social representations of four ethnic minorities in southern Spain. Following a between-subjects design, Spanish participants (n = 532) were assigned to evaluate either Romanian Roma, Spanish Roma, Moroccan, or Romanian non-Roma people, with a free-association task and scales of stereotypes, emotions, and behavioral tendencies. Results showed that Romanian Roma was the most devalued target, eliciting the worst representation and attitudes. The content analysis revealed that participants described minorities mainly in terms of social exclusion, culture, appearance, personality, opportunity seeking, stigmatization, and personalization/equality, with social exclusion being a key category associated with worst attitudes.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the role of the morality dimension in the prejudice towards a group of Roma (the Romanian Roma) in comparison with other immigrants (Moroccan and Romanian immigrants). Since prejudice towards Romanian Roma is a subject that is still underexplored, Study 1 describes stereotype content (in terms of morality, sociability and competence), emotions and social distance preferred by a group of Italians towards this out-group. Study 2, also adding the measurement of the stereotype dimension of immorality, compared stereotypes, positive emotions felt by Italians and their behavioural tendencies of facilitation towards Romanian Roma, Moroccan immigrants, and Romanian immigrants. Positive emotions resulted to mediate between some stereotype dimensions and the behavioural tendencies, but direct effects of morality and competence were also observed. In addition, low morality resulted to be the stereotype dimension that had a crucial role in reducing the behavioural tendencies of participants’ facilitation towards Romanian Roma.

Mexico is one of the most diverse countries with numerous social minorities such as indigenous Mexicans, but also immigrants coming from countries so different like Honduras or the United States (US). The relationship between stereotypes about minorities and perceived threat has been extensively studied; however, it has not been tested whether such a relationship varies according to the target evaluated. We compared the stereotypes of Mexicans toward indigenous Mexicans, US immigrants, and Honduran immigrants, and analyzed their relationship with perceived threat, perceived discrimination, and quantity of contact. Six hundred and thirty-five Mexican participants (62.5% female, Mage = 29.07) answered an online questionnaire reporting their stereotypes of (im)morality, sociability, and competence of the outgroup (i.e., indigenous Mexicans, US immigrants, or Honduran immigrants), and of the ingroup (Mexican majority), perceived threat and discrimination of the three minorities, and their quantity of contact with them. Results showed that indigenous Mexicans were the best-evaluated group in all stereotype dimensions, and were considered the least threatening and the most discriminated group. Perceived (im)morality of US and especially of Honduran immigrants was associated with perceptions of realistic threat, but this association was not sustained when evaluating indigenous Mexicans. Our findings may contribute to understanding the complexity when evaluating different minorities in Mexico and some of the psychosocial processes involved.

Acculturation is a bidirectional process in which both the majority and minority groups change as they relate to each other. In Spain, studies have usually focused on the acculturation of minorities (e.g., Moroccans) upon their arrival in Spanish society, but little has been said about the acculturation of the majority. In this study, we analyzed whether making salient the richness of the Moroccan culture can affect the stereotypes of (im)morality of a sample of Spanish participants regarding Moroccan immigrants as well as their attitude toward adopting Moroccan cultural patterns through a process of self-perceived unfreezing of previous beliefs. In a preliminary study, we explored what people of Moroccan origin would like Spaniards to learn from Moroccans. Then, using an intergroup experimental design, we randomly assigned participants to one of the following three conditions: (a) enrichment of Moroccan culture (using excerpts from actual discourses, n = 222), (b) exposure to Moroccan immigration rates (n = 238), or (c) a control condition (n = 181). The results revealed that the participants in the cultural enrichment condition experienced more self-perceived unfreezing of previous beliefs, perceived Moroccans as more moral (only vs. the immigration rates condition), and reduced their resistance to adopting Moroccan cultural patterns, even though the effects were small. Furthermore, self-perceived unfreezing of previous beliefs mediated the effect of the cultural enrichment condition on perceived morality (but not immorality) and on the adoption of Moroccan cultural patterns. We discuss how, by emphasizing the enrichment of Moroccan culture, we can increase the morality attributed to Moroccans and decrease the resistance of Spaniards to adopting that minority culture.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship among different evaluative reactions of the intergroup attitudes and contact in Spanish adolescents evaluating different ethnic minorities and in immigrant-background adolescents evaluating Spanish youth. This study was based on psychosocial models of great impact in the study of intergroup relations such as the Stereotype Content Model and the Behaviors from Intergroup Affect and Stereotypes Map, and incorporated a new approach to the study of attitudes: psychological networks. In total, 1122 Spanish adolescents and 683 adolescents with an immigrant background (Moroccan, Romanian or Ecuadorian origin) participated in the study, aged from 12 to 19 years. They answered a questionnaire with measures of stereotype dimensions (morality, immorality, sociability and competence), emotions (positives and negative), behavioral tendencies (facilitation and harm) and contact (quantity and quality). The results show similar structural patterns in the six studied groups, with emotions acting as links between stereotypes and behavioral tendencies. Moreover, positive and negative stereotype dimensions appeared as independent dimensions that were part of different processes: sociability and morality, and competence to a lesser extent, were related to facilitation behaviors through positive emotions, while immorality was related to harm behaviors through negative emotions. This could indicate that, to achieve successful intergroup relations involving cooperation and the development of friendly relationships, it would be appropriate to intervene in parallel in these two pathways. Due to the centrality of positive emotions (and sociability and immorality) and, therefore, their capacity to affect the entire network, focusing interventions on these variables could be an appropriate strategy to achieve overall positive attitudes.

One of the difficulties in social research has been to disentangle the effects of race/ethnicity from social class. In two experimental studies with samples of both students and general population (total N = 416), we analyzed the effect of social class, ethnicity and their interaction on prejudice and discrimination using experimental methods. Social class (High vs. Low) and ethnic group (Roma vs. Non-Roma) were manipulated through a cover story. Study 1 showed a main effect of social class, not of ethnicity, on prejudice and discrimination. In Study 2 the effect of social class was replicated, and the interaction effect was also significant for all dependent variables. Results show that negative effects of social class are higher among Roma than non-Roma. Pooled analyses corroborated these findings. Social class is a predictive factor, especially in interaction with ethnicity and should be considered for predicting and reducing prejudiced attitudes and intergroup behaviors fostering inequality.

Acceptance of cultural differences can contribute to diversity. However, naïve realism-the conviction that one's views are objective whereas others' are biased-might hinder intercultural coexistence. We tested, in three experimental studies, whether a cognitive strategy based on raising awareness of the naïve realism, without any reference to culture and free of emotional involvement, can have a beneficial effect on cultural acceptance. Results revealed that participants showed more acceptance of cultural differences once they were aware of this bias (Study 1). The intervention had an indirect effect on acceptance via openness, especially for participants higher in prejudice (Study 2). Participants aware of this bias could not maintain an enhanced self-view, which mediated the effect of the manipulation on acceptance (Study 3). These findings suggest that strategies based on "cold" cognition, without an explicit emphasis on culture, might be beneficial for increasing the acceptance of cultural differences in an era of xenophobia.

Honduran migration toward the United States crosses Mexico forming migrant caravans, generating intense sociopolitical debate. However, a psychosocial analysis focused on Mexicans' perceptions and behavioral tendencies has not been performed. Quality of contact between Mexican residents and Honduran migrants and its relationship to Mexicans' (interpersonal and institutional) behavioral tendencies, as well as the mediating role of morality and immorality stereotypes and perceived threat, were analyzed. Participants were 540 Mexicans (64.26% women; age, M = 26.03 years, SD = 8.94) who answered an online form. Results showed an indirect association of higher quality of intergroup contact with more facilitating tendencies through higher morality stereotypes and with fewer harming tendencies through lower perceived threat. Our results may contribute to design migration policies.

Insurgents of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant created a crisis that has had immediate and long-term consequences for the population in Iraq. Yazidis are among the most affected ethnoreligious groups in the region. The current study focuses on investigating the level of psychological distress and its association with subjective resilience among the Yazidi minority 6 years after the attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The present study recruited four hundred and twenty-two Yazidi individuals (50.8