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Intergroup perception of international students.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

Intercultural Relations Studies are concerned with the analysis of intergroup behaviour within contexts of cultural diversity. Scholars agree that intercultural contact is an emotionally intense experience for the participants and challenging for researchers and educators (Paige, 2002). This exploratory study examined Spanish students' perception of international students within the university context. We examined a sample of seventy-four Spanish students attending an English course at a university in the South of Spain. Perception of the foreign presence was found to be determinant on respondents' behaviour when the possibility of intergroup contact emerges. Moreover, contrary to optimistic theories about the effects of intercultural contact, results indicated that even positive contact does not create favourable perception of cultural differences.

Theoretical foundations

During the last ten years, the emphasis on intercultural communication has shifted from cultural-specific issues towards the mutual understanding of host country and guest populations. Similarly, approaches to cultural diversity are assuming an intercultural perspective (i.e., intergroup contact and communication) rather than a multicultural posture (i.e., the presence and consideration of other cultures). Numerous studies on intercultural relations have dealt with the problems arising from the inherent influence our cultural background has on intercultural interaction. The Contact Hypothesis put forward by Allport (1954) proposed that, under certain circumstances, contact with members of a "disliked" group may lead to the growth of respect and liking, or, at least, the decrease of negative attitudes towards that group.

The present study focused on a multicultural educational context that in advance -after a previous phase of research-setting observation and participation- seemed to be characterized by intergroup distance between Spanish university students and foreign university students. Contact between members of different groups has been often considered as an affective way to reduce intergroup conflict. However, Piontkowski (2000) criticizes this view explaining that contact without cooperation and a common goal does not reduce hostility, but may rather increase it. Berry et al (1992) refers to the assumption that social contact, under certain conditions, can have positive influence on attitudes towards outgroups. But he warns that awareness of cultural differences in relation to the outgroup may turn into the perception of a "threat" to the cultural identity of the dominant group. In that case, outgroup discrimination may increase and impermeable group boundaries appear. Corson (1995) posits that it is inevitable that some cultural realities are incompatible. Referring to the same point, Corson argues that this is so because unfavourable attitudes inevitably appear when different cultural values and worldviews get into contact. Fox (1997) notes that negative attitudes towards the "other" stems from assumptions based on stereotyping and attitudes of superiority over other ethnic groups. Moreover, Giles and Robinson (1980) demonstrated that the factor of intercultural contact is not enough...