Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs
Previous research finds a relationship between prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia and negative ideas invoked through political rhetoric; these include perceptions of threat and the acceptance of false beliefs. In recent years, political debate has also seen an increase in hostility toward...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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The College of Community Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society
2012
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| Online Access: | https://groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/ACP-24-2-Suhnan.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31733 |
| _version_ | 1848753464498192384 |
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| author | Suhnan, A. Pedersen, A. Hartley, Lisa |
| author_facet | Suhnan, A. Pedersen, A. Hartley, Lisa |
| author_sort | Suhnan, A. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Previous research finds a relationship between prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia and negative ideas invoked through political rhetoric; these include perceptions of threat and the acceptance of false beliefs. In recent years, political debate has also seen an increase in hostility towards people smugglers. In this study, we examine whether the expected link between prejudice and perceptions of threat and false beliefs still holds, and we extend this by examining how people smuggler prejudice affects asylum seeker prejudice. A total of 138 members of the Perth community completed a questionnaire regarding their views on these issues. Regression analyses indicated that all three variables significantly and independently predicted prejudice against asylum seekers. Results also showed that prejudice against people smugglers was significantly higher than prejudice against asylum seekers. Our results are consistent with public political rhetoric on community attitudes regarding this topical issue. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:24:56Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-31733 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:24:56Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | The College of Community Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-317332017-02-28T01:41:35Z Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs Suhnan, A. Pedersen, A. Hartley, Lisa Previous research finds a relationship between prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia and negative ideas invoked through political rhetoric; these include perceptions of threat and the acceptance of false beliefs. In recent years, political debate has also seen an increase in hostility towards people smugglers. In this study, we examine whether the expected link between prejudice and perceptions of threat and false beliefs still holds, and we extend this by examining how people smuggler prejudice affects asylum seeker prejudice. A total of 138 members of the Perth community completed a questionnaire regarding their views on these issues. Regression analyses indicated that all three variables significantly and independently predicted prejudice against asylum seekers. Results also showed that prejudice against people smugglers was significantly higher than prejudice against asylum seekers. Our results are consistent with public political rhetoric on community attitudes regarding this topical issue. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31733 https://groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/ACP-24-2-Suhnan.pdf The College of Community Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society restricted |
| spellingShingle | Suhnan, A. Pedersen, A. Hartley, Lisa Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title | Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title_full | Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title_fullStr | Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title_short | Examining prejudice against asylum seekers in Australia: The role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| title_sort | examining prejudice against asylum seekers in australia: the role of people smugglers, the perception of threat, and acceptance of false beliefs |
| url | https://groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/ACP-24-2-Suhnan.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31733 |