Integrated Threat Theory Model Essay

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The integrated threat theory model consists of four types of threats that can lead to prejudice. These threats are: realistic threats, symbolic threats, intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes. Realistic threats are posed by the outgroup and have several types of consequence and impact. They can either be threats of war, threats to political and/or economic power of the ingroup, and threats to physical and/or material well-being of the ingroup and its members. Symbolic threats is usually based on perceived group differences in morals, values, standards, beliefs, and attitudes. Symbolic threats are also threats to the ingroup’s worldview and these threats arise because the ingroup believes that its system of values are morally correct. …show more content…

The model measures anxiety and relates them to prejudice. The final threat, Negative Stereotypes,creates a fear of negative consequences. The four threats within the integrated threat theory model are used to predict attitudes towards outgroups. Stephan and Stephan (2000) conducted several studies to test this model. The first study measured how all four types of threat would predict prejudice toward immigrant groups because it is these groups that are usually perceived as real threats to Americans, their values perceived as different from the norm, the anxiety induced from these interactions, and the negative stereotypes Americans harbour towards immigrants. The researchers measured realictic threat through the use of 12 items such as crime, drugs, job loss etc through phrases like: ; Mexicans immigrants are contributing to increase in crime in the U.S.” Symbolic threat was measured by using items to create the impression of perceived differences in values such as work, moral, and religious values, for example “ Mexican immigration is undermining American culture.” Intergroup anxiety was measured through asking participants how they would feel when they interacted with the outgroup. The 12 item scale included feelings such as apprehensiveness, anxiousness, worry and so

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