Under flyktingkrisen 2015 hårdnade debatten kring flyktingmigration och de främlingsfientliga rösterna höjdes. Som ett resultat av den mediala uppmärksamheten kring flyktingkrisen anses nu invandrings- och integrationsfrågan vara den överlägset viktigaste samhällsfrågan i Sverige. Forskning kring främlingsfientlighet har i stor utsträckning genomförts ur majoritetsbefolkningens perspektiv, i denna studie ligger fokus istället på personer med utländsk bakgrund och deras erfarenheter av främlingsfientliga attityder. Genom en kvalitativ metod där åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts har denna studie undersökt hur personer med utländsk bakgrund upplever främlingsfientlighet och dess orsaker i relation till medierapportering kring invandring och flyktingfrågor. Resultatet har analyserats med hjälp av Intergroup threat theory, Cultivation theory och stereotypisering och visar att främlingsfientlighet existerar mellan majoritets- och minoritetsgrupper men även inom minoritetsgrupper. De upplevelser som identifieras är huvudsakligen vardagliga händelser och dess orsaker grundar sig på samhälleliga problem, kulturskillnader och stereotyper. Enligt respondenterna framställer media personer med utländsk bakgrund och flyktingar övervägande negativt och påverkar därmed attityder och främlingsfientliga åsikter i det svenska samhället. Ett resultat av detta menar respondenterna är att Sverige har blivit mer främlingsfientligt på grund av den mediala rapporteringen kring flyktingkrisen.

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Recently theorists have argued that in-group members might respond more harshly to deviant members of their own group in comparison to deviant members of the out-group. Previous research has provided extensive support for this “black sheep effect”; however, no prior studies have examined how it affects individuals’ attitudes towards sexual minorities, or those perceived as deviating from the heterosexual norm. Numerous factors have been found to be linked to negative attitudes towards sexual minorities, including religious fundamentalism and the traditional male role norm of anti-femininity, and several studies have suggested that intergroup threat theory may serve as a possible explanation for sexual prejudice. The present study examines the association between several known correlates of sexual prejudice and intergroup threat theory, and examines the possible mediating effect of sexual prejudice on the association between anti-femininity, religious fundamentalism, and the “black sheep effect”.

Three experiments investigated the phenomenon of war contagion in the context of international relations, hypothesizing that past inter- (but not intra-) state war will facilitate future, unrelated interstate war. Americans showed stronger support for violent responses to new, unrelated interstate tensions after being reminded of an historical war between the U.S. and another state, as compared to an historical domestic war within the U.S. (Study 1). This war contagion effect was mediated by heightened perceived threat from, and negative images of, a fictitious country unrelated to the past war, indicating a generalized effect of past interstate war on perceived threat/images from any foreign country. The war contagion effect was further moderated by national glorification (Study 2). Largely replicating these effects with an additional baseline condition, Study 3 yielded further support for the generalized effect of past interstate war on perceived threat and images, this time with a real third-party country.

This investigation sought to extend research in mediated intergroup communication by examining the role of emotion in producing intergroup bias. Two studies were guided by social identity theory, appraisal-based theories of emotion, and cultivation theory. Study 1 surveyed 254 adults, recruited through student referrals. Drawing insight from previous content analytic research and cultivation theory, results indicated that the media plays an important role in cultivating emotional reactions toward racial minorities. Overall daily television consumption was associated with experiencing anxiety-related emotions and distrust-related emotions toward Blacks. Television news consumption was associated with experiencing anger towards Blacks. Overall daily television consumption was associated with experiencing anger and anxiety-related emotions toward Latinos and Asians. Television news consumption was associated with experiencing distrust-related emotions toward Asians. In Study 2 a 2 (Immigration: Threat/No-Threat) X 2 (Ingroup Emotional Norm Endorsement: Present/Absent) plus 1 (Control) experiment examined the impact of mediated intergroup threat on attitudes toward immigration, collective self-esteem, information sharing and seeking behaviors, and policy support, in the context of illegal immigration. This study also examined whether experimental condition indirectly influenced the above-specified outcomes through intergroup emotions. Previous news consumption was examined as a potential moderator of the mediational relationship between experimental condition and intergroup outcomes via intergroup emotions. Results indicate that exposure to intergroup threat via the media directly influence attitudes toward immigrants' human rights and information sharing. Exposure to intergroup threat indirectly influences immigration attitudes through feelings of anxiety. Moreover, exposure to intergroup threat via the media indirectly influences information sharing and support for English-only legislation through feelings of disgust. Conditional indirect effects were found for immigration attitudes, information sharing, and support for English-only legislation. Exposure to threatening intergroup information neither directly, nor indirectly information seeking or emailing congressperson to reduce the number of immigrants allowed in the United States. Results are discussed in light of social identity theory, intergroup threat theory, intergroup emotions theory, and BIAS map research. Taken together, results suggest that the current study's social identity appraisal-based approach provides insight into the role of media in intergroup processes.