Scapegoating immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: An examination of the determinants of blame target selection

Abstract

Hatred of immigrants in social crises poses a risk to intercultural relations. This study aims to identify the logic by which people scapegoat immigrants. Attributing greater blame to immigrants than to natives can be understood in terms of how individuals categorize immigrants as an out-group. Stronger perceptions of intergroup boundaries can lead to an increased “othering” of immigrants. This process may result in greater blame attribution to immigrants for social problems, even when little evidence supports these attributions. Instead of considering immigrants as inherently an out-group, this study explores the intergroup boundaries that lead individuals to attribute more blame to immigrants than to natives. Specifically, national identity, germ aversion, and authoritarianism are discussed as factors related to intergroup boundaries. From January 6–10, 2023, an opt-in web survey was conducted with 1800 adults aged 20–69 years. After excluding satisficers, the analysis was conducted with 1753 respondents to examine the blame attribution to immigrants and young and old Japanese for the spread of infection. The results showed that individuals with a national identity emphasizing ethnic concepts tended to blame immigrants just as much as Japanese. By contrast, those emphasizing only civic concepts of their national identity tended to attribute less blame to immigrants than they do to Japanese. Germ aversion increased blame attribution only to young Japanese. Respondents with stronger authoritarianism tended to blame immigrants more strongly than Japanese. These results suggest that people do not necessarily recognize immigrants as an out-group to be scapegoated, but that scapegoats are selected with reference to intergroup boundaries.