Original scientific paper

Ethnocentrism, Threat Perception, and Croatian National Identity

Zlatko Šram ; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In this paper the results are presented of the research by which the author tried to establish the dimensionality and distribution of ethnocentrism measured by the Ethno-3 scale, connections between threat perception and ethnocentrism, as well as the associations between the expression of Croatian national identity and both the dimensions of threat perception and ethnocentrism. The investigation was carried out on a sample of students (N=368) at the University of Zagreb. The average age of the respondents was 21 years, and 63 per cent were females. By explorative factor analysis, using orthobliqe rotation, the latent variables used in a further multivariate analysis were extracted. Results of the factor analysis confirmed the hypothesis about the multidimensionality of ethnocentrism and extracted the following dimensions: labeled national affective attachment and self-sacrifice, national exclusiveness and prejudices, national superiority and partiality, and national homogenisation. The results of the multiple regression analysis have shown that the most significant predictors of dimensions of ethnocentrism were threat perception to national security posed by some ethnic minority groups, and threat perception to national cultural identity posed by immigrants. The expression of Croatian national identity is highly associated with the dimension of ethnocentrism that indicates a strong national affective attachment and readiness to self-sacrifice. The structure of relations established between the dimensions of ethnocentrism and threat perception points to the presence of latent conflict in interethnic relationships.

Keywords

ethnocentrism; threat perception; xenophobia; Croatian identity

Hrčak ID:

60862

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/60862

Publication date:

30.8.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian french

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