Social identity complexity decreases exclusion of immigrants by reducing the glorification dimension of national identification

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate interrelationships among social identity complexity, national glorification, and exclusion of immigrants, conceptualized as relational exclusivity. The concept of relational exclusivity reflects the conditions newcomers are expected to meet in order to be welcomed and allowed to settle in the host country. The findings across four studies (three correlational and one experimental; total N = 2,002) consistently indicated that complex identity is negatively, whereas glorification is positively, associated with relational exclusivity. Furthermore, in all studies, we consistently demonstrated that the relationship between social identity complexity and relational exclusivity is mediated by reduced glorification. Consequently, the findings suggest that social identity complexity has the capacity to reduce national glorification and, subsequently, indirectly reduce the exclusion of immigrants.