Perceived value differences trigger symbolic threats but not realistic threats

Evidence

For example, in a recent experiment, German participants read about a fictitious immigrant group whose values were depicted as either similar to or different from those of the ingroup (Rohman et al., 2006, Study 2). The authors found that reading about the group with different values increased participants’ perceptions of symbolic threat, but it did not affect their perceptions of realistic threat. — Walter G. Stephan, Oscar Ybarra, Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 9

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Realistic and symbolic threats are distinct, defined by harm versus meaning-system concerns. — Walter G. Stephan and Oscar Ybarra and Kimberly Rios Morrison, Intergroup Threat Theory, 32

Related

• Realistic and symbolic threats are distinct, defined by harm versus meaning-system concerns. (similarity 0.87)
• Symbolic threat targets ingroup values while realistic threat targets power and wellbeing (similarity 0.86)
• Distinctiveness threat may precede and amplify symbolic and realistic threats (similarity 0.84)
• Perceived cultural-value threats often outweigh economic ones in anti-immigrant bias. (similarity 0.83)
• Realistic threats are more negotiable than symbolic ones because core values resist change (similarity 0.83)
• Symbolic threat and material conflict feed each other to sustain group boundaries (similarity 0.80)
• Symbolic threats favor assimilation while realistic threats favor separatism (similarity 0.80)
• Groups are judged more threatening than the individuals composing them (similarity 0.79)
• Realistic and symbolic threats reliably predict prejudice across studies (similarity 0.79)
• Negative stereotypes cause threat rather than being a distinct threat type themselves. (similarity 0.79)
• Group-based identity forces precede realistic and symbolic threat perception (similarity 0.79)
• Group-level threats and individual-level threats trigger systematically different responses (similarity 0.78)
• Group-level and individual-level threats are experienced independently by the same person. (similarity 0.78)
• Stereotypes exaggerate a genuine kernel of actual group difference (similarity 0.78)
• Symbolic threats drive dehumanization and the most vicious cruelty (similarity 0.78)