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The Logic of Xenophobia

Author

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  • Jens Rydgren

    (Department of Sociology,Stockholm University,SE-106 91 Stockholm,Sweden jens.rydgren@sociology.su.se)

Abstract

In this article I discuss the subjective rationality of xenophobic and racist beliefs. Although such beliefs are mostly non-rational from an objective perspective, because of their incongruence with reality, under certain conditions they may appear rational from people’s subjective point of view – in particular in situations of uncertainty. The reason for this is mainly cognitive limitations and biased background information. I argue that xenophobic beliefs are often underpinned by categorization and inference biases. More speci.cally, xenophobic beliefs may arise out of invalid inductive inferences and by stereotyped categorization processes. Both these types of erroneous inferences result from thought processes that have the same form as cognitive mechanisms people use successfully in their daily lives, which give them good reason for relying on them without much reflection.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Rydgren, 2004. "The Logic of Xenophobia," Rationality and Society, , vol. 16(2), pages 123-148, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:16:y:2004:i:2:p:123-148
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463104043712
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raymond Boudon, 1989. "Subjective Rationality and the Explanation of Social Behavior," Rationality and Society, , vol. 1(2), pages 173-196, October.
    2. Boudon, Raymond, 1989. "Subjective Rationality and the Explanation of Social Behavior," MPIfG Discussion Paper 89/6, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
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    Cited by:

    1. Türkay S Nefes, 2014. "Rationale of conspiracy theorizing: Who shot the President Chen Shui-bian?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 26(3), pages 373-394, August.
    2. Mª Ángeles Cea D’Ancona, 2016. "Immigration as a Threat: Explaining the Changing Pattern of Xenophobia in Spain," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 569-591, May.
    3. Dedeoglu, Bekir Bora & Boğan, Erhan & Kucukergin, Kemal Gurkan & Birinci, Muhammet Cenk, 2023. "Are tourists afraid of the unknown? Examining the role of travel constraints and tourist xenophobia with symmetric and asymmetric perspectives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    4. Goldschmidt, Tina & Rydgren, Jens, 2018. "Social distance, immigrant integration, and welfare chauvinism in Sweden," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Migration, Integration, Transnationalization SP VI 2018-102, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    5. Elyakim Kislev, 2017. "Deciphering the ‘Ethnic Penalty’ of Immigrants in Western Europe: A Cross-Classified Multilevel Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 725-745, November.

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