The impact of biological and cultural racisms on attitudes towards immigrants and immigration public policies

Based on ESS-7 data, this paper focuses on two attitudinal dimensions about public policies related to immigration: how many can come and who can come. In this context, the hypothesis concerning the bi-dimensionality of racism was supported and, as predicted, biological racism is more antinormative than cultural racism. Both biological and cultural racism predict opposition to immigration and adhesion to ethnicist criteria on the selection of immigrants. As hypothesised, the relationship between racism and opposition to immigration and adhesion to ethnicist criteria is mediated by threat perceptions. Specifically, symbolic and realistic threats mediate the effect of biological and cultural racism on opposition to immigration and on ethnicist criteria. The hypothesis that the mediation effects are moderated by the country’s quality of democracy was supported, indicating that the mediation effects are stronger in countries with a higher quality of democracy. Results are discussed within the context of racism theories as a bi-dimensional concept and in the framework of the role of legitimation processes in social discrimination.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

People’s social value depends on their sexual orientation and gender identity

O presente estudo objetivou investigar a discriminação de transexuais. Realizou-se um experimento que consistiu na apresentação de uma notícia fictícia acerca de vazamento de fotos de uma pessoa que variava de acordo com o sexo da vítima designado no nascimento (masculino vs. feminino), sua orientação sexual e identidade de gênero (heterossexual vs. homossexual vs. transexual), resultando em seis condições experimentais. A medida de discriminação usada foi a atribuição do valor de indenização. O estudo contou com 300 participantes heterossexuais cisgêneros de ambos os sexos, alocados aleatoriamente em uma das seis condições. Os resultados reforçaram as evidências de que as pessoas tendem a valorizar o próprio grupo e discriminar pessoas transexuais. Foram encontradas variações do sexo do alvo e do sexo de quem discrimina. Os achados foram discutidos com base na Teoria da Identidade Social e na ameaça à distintividade.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fatores Legitimadores da Discriminação: Uma Revisão Teórica

This article presents a theoretical review on the legitimizing factors of discrimination that are identified in classical theories of social psychology. In this sense, we analyze how these mechanisms are treated in four theoretical perspectives: individual differences; conflicts of interest; categorization processes; and identity processes. The focus of our analysis is based on the idea that theories of social psychology have explained the intergroup discrimination by referring the central role played by legitimating factors in social inequality, although the reference to these factors did not occur in an explicit way. Finally, we propose that the use of justifying factors of discrimination is the mechanism through which prejudice leads to discrimination, while realistic and symbolic perceptions of threat are some of the most important legitimating factors of discrimination.O presente artigo apresenta uma revisão teórica sobre os mecanismos legitimadores da discriminação identificados em teorias clássicas da Psicologia Social. Neste sentido, analisamos como esses mecanismos são tratados em quatro perspectivas teóricas: as diferenças individuais; os conflitos de interesses; o processo de categorização; e os processos identitários. Orientamos nossa análise seguindo a ideia de que as teorias analisadas têm explicado a discriminação “intergrupal” recorrendo a fatores legitimadores das desigualdades sociais, ainda que a referência a estes fatores não tenha sido feita de forma explícita. Finalmente, propomos que  o recurso a fatores justificadores da discriminação representa o mecanismo através do qual  preconceito leva à discriminação, sendo as percepções de ameaça realista e simbólica alguns dos importantes fatores legitimadores da discriminação

Clear-cut terms and culture-sensitive characteristics of distinctive casual sexual relationships in Portuguese emerging adults

Casual sexual relationships (CSR) are increasingly common but limited empirical research has addressed their terminology and distinctive characteristics. This study sought to identify the most clear-cut terms and to consider how culture-sensitive characteristics distinguish casual sexual relationships among Portuguese emerging adults (N = 262, 18-29 years old). We combined two qualitative studies – one by association and another by free recall – to ascertain the clarity of the terms, plus a quantitative study to further characterize and differentiate them. Participants were asked to match descriptions of CSRs with the respective terms by which they are known (Study 1). The same was investigated using an evocation task requesting that participants produce the terms by which the described CSRs are known (Study 2). Binary logistic regressions were performed to analyze the associations between encounters and labels chosen, taking the effect of gender and age into account. In the third study, participants rated the degree to which eight characteristics were present in the types of CSR, a simultaneous task that led to greater understanding of their descriptive and differentiating characteristics. Multivariate analysis of variance was used, with gender and age as covariates. We conclude that two types of CSR – friends with benefits and one-night stand – and, to a lesser extent, making out, are understood and associated with consensual labels, also found by free-recall. These CSRs proved to be distinct, as they are understood as more different than similar in a set of psychoemotional, behavioral, and sexual characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Fertile Ground for Ambiguities: Casual Sexual Relationships Among Portuguese Emerging Adults

Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are frequent relationship experiences in young adulthood that provide opportunities for many to explore sexual relationships and to construct their sexual identity. Empirical research on casual sex is still lacking outside North-American countries, despite evidence pointing to the need to contextualize sexual interactions in their own sociocultural context. In order to better understand casual sexual relationships, these should be examined in with novel samples in other countries where a “hookup culture” as it is described in the North-American university campus is apparently absent. Through a qualitative study, we explored what casual sexual relationships consist of according to the perceptions of Portuguese college students (N=35). The thematic analysis of eight focus group interviews resulted in the generation of six themes, three of which are presented here: (1) What CSRs are, regarding features and types of CSRs, (2) Why individuals engage in CSRs, focusing on positive and negative motivations, and (3) What one gets from CSRs, focusing on positive and negative outcomes of CSRs. Our findings showed that Portuguese emerging adults are familiarized with CSRs, particularly with one-night stand, friends with benefits and “curte”/hookup. Sexual interactions associated with other CSRs, such as booty call or fuck buddies, were mentioned but rarely associated with a distinctive label and established characteristics. Participants described the CSRs in a partially overlapping manner presenting some areas of ambiguity, such as with regard to sexual exclusivity and still-unlabeled sexual interactions. CSRs are generally evaluated as positively motivated and mainly beneficial. This study adds to the literature around casual sexual relationships by exploring and describing CSRs in a different sociocultural context, as well as indicating directions for future research in order to better prepare and empower young adults in their sexual and relational trajectories.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multiple Casual Sex Scripts: Shared Beliefs about Behavior among Portuguese Emerging Adults

Objective: Empirical research to differentiate casual sex scripts is still limited. We aimed to ascertain the sexual scripts for three main types of casual sexual relationships: hookup, friends with benefits and one-night stands. Methods: Through a mixed-method approach, we performed a study consisting in two sequential tasks to (1) complete three lists of script actions, and (2) identify the most agreed-upon actions for each casual sexual relationship. Results: An important number of actions and events were identified for the three casual sexual scripts, reflecting a high level of elaboration and structure. Following a cognitive-script methodology, the actions retained for the content of the script for each casual sexual relationship were those obtaining at least 60% in respect to the mean of their centrality to the encounter. Only 16.5% of actions were shared among the three scripts, demonstrating their distinctiveness. Conclusion: Knowledge about the different casual sex scripts can be used to develop relational and personal skills within CSRs and decrease unwanted experiences such as condomless sex.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relational Job Characteristics and Well-Being of Brazilian K-12 Teachers

A teacher’s relationship with students can be a source of more than stress. The attributes of relational jobs either promote positive (e.g., work engagement) or inhibit negative (e.g., exhaustion) psychological states that constitute potential predictors of teachers’ general well-being (e.g., health perception). The present study tests hypotheses regarding the relationships between the psychological effects of relational job characteristics and teachers’ work-related and context-free well-being indicators. Preschool, primary, and secondary Brazilian school teachers (n = 2205) responded to a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed by multiple mediator structural equation modeling. The psychological effects of relational job characteristics predicted exhaustion, engagement, and health perception. Findings support indirect effects on health perception of exhaustion and engagement. Data were interpreted according to the job demands-resources model, where the relational job characteristics constitute essential resources that foster work engagement, diminish burnout, and indirectly affect more generalized well-being states such as general health. Possible explanations for the relationships are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Just World, Trust in Institutions and Socioeconomic and Political Moderations

This study investigates the system justifying role through belief in a just world (BJW), testing whether institutional trust is related to this belief and whether this relationship depends on specific socioeconomic and political factors. A research with 381 university students, aged 18 to 64 years (M = 22.4, SD = 6.25), explored their BJW and their degree of institutional trust. Regression and moderation analyses revealed that BJW relates to institutional trust only in left-wing and with lower income participants. We believe this occurs because they need more an ideology that justifies the system to trust the institutions. This phenomenon can prevent these people from pursuing structural social changes since the system is now seen as fair.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O Papel de Representações Sociais sobre a Natureza da Homossexualidade na Oposição ao Casamento Civil e à Adoção por Famílias Homoafetivas

In this study the relationship between prejudice, support of discriminating policies against homosexuals and people’s social representations about the nature of homosexuality was analyzed. Participants were 297 final year psychology, social work, and law students. Results showed that the representations about homosexuality based on religious, moralist, and psychological beliefs are positively related to the support of discriminating policies against homosexuals, specifically the opposition to civil union and to children’s adoption by homosexuals. Beliefs about the cultural nature of homosexuality predicted lower support of these policies. These relations were mediated by blatant prejudice against homosexuals. These results show the role played by social representations about the nature of social groups in the maintenance of prejudices and discriminatory practices against minority groups.Analisamos as relações entre preconceito, apoio às políticas discriminatórias contra homossexuais e representações sociais sobre a natureza da homossexualidade. Participaram 297 estudantes de último ano de psicologia, serviço social e direito. Os resultados mostram que as representações sobre a homossexualidade baseadas em crenças religiosas, moralistas e psicológicas predizem o maior apoio às políticas discriminatórias contra os homossexuais, nomeadamente a oposição ao casamento e à adoção de crianças por casais homoafetivos. A crença na natureza cultural da homossexualidade prediz o menor apoio a essas políticas. As relações verificadas são mediadas pelo preconceito flagrante contra homossexuais. Esses resultados indicam que o preconceito é um dos mecanismos pelos quais as representações sociais sobre os grupos sociais levam à discriminação contra esses grupos