Research Symposium

BIO

Chloe Prodromou is a first-year Marketing student at Florida State University. She plans to add a duel degree on to her academic track pursing International Affairs (Asian Studies). Originally from Miami Beach, Chloe is a first-generation college student with a passion for international business, philosophy, and history.

Effects of Zero-Sum Thinking on Anti-Immigration Attitudes

Abstract

Anti-Immigration attitudes have been held by various United States and foreign citizens, but what factors influence these anti-immigration attitudes? This project aims to determine the extent to which anti-immigration attitudes can be explained by zero-sum thinking, which is the tendency to believe one group’s gains come at another's loss. By examining zero-sum thinking and other relevant factors such as nationalism, patriotism, etc., we can determine what conditions lead to anti-immigration sentiments and whether history is repeating itself. We examined federal legislation from 1850-1930 to see how attitudes shifted over time. Additionally, we replicated a study that examined the historical role news elites played in shaping public beliefs of immigrants as a distinct social group. Through our research, we found that people tend to exhibit high levels of zero-sum thinking when they feel threatened in their current role, which influences negative attitudes. These preliminary results, based on historical documents and statistics, could be further studied through various experiments to ensure strict causality and determine which factors determine anti-immigration attitudes the most. Understanding the causes of anti-immigration attitudes allows us to understand the increasing degree of political polarization, how and why exclusionary policies are enacted, and demonstrates the psychological perceptions in driving public opinion and legislation. By analyzing past and current patterns, we can make predictions about the future and target the factors causing the anti-immigration attitudes.

Keywords: Zero-Sum Thinking, Immigration, Anti-Immigration