Stratégies d’acculturation, jugement et (dés)approbation sociale chez les immigrés : une approche intra-groupe

Introduction

Few studies in France have examined the impact of acculturation strategies chosen by immigrants on intra-group relations. However, facing rejection from one's peers or evolving in a different way in the host country can be as important as being accepted by the majority. This study aims to address this deficit by investigating immigrants’ acculturation preferences, social judgements and social approval towards a target of the same origin according to its acculturation profile.

Method

In two studies of Malagasy (n = 111) and Maghrebi (n = 106) immigrants, participants were presented with a fictional portrait of a Malagasy or Maghrebi immigrant adopting an assimilation or separation strategy. Participants were asked to report their evaluation of the target (competence, sociability, morality) and their approval of the target. Their own inclination towards acculturation strategies was measured.

Results

Assimilationist targets are perceived as more competent (study 1) and more sociable (studies 1 and 2) than separatist targets. Malagasy participants were more likely to perceive the assimilationist target as less moral when they were inclined to separatism. North African participants perceive the assimilationist target as more moral when they themselves prefer assimilation. Both samples approve of the target's assimilation strategy more if they themselves are inclined toward it.

Conclusion

The results revealed that participants’ preference for different acculturation strategies could increase their perceptions of the target's morality and their approval of his/her acculturation strategy, especially when there was congruence of the target's acculturation with that of the participants.