Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Fall, 1996
Miami University

News from a Social Psychology Perspective

Social Psychological Principles in the
Russian Immigration Into Israel

Analysis by
Ed Berger, Lynn Kennedy, and Jim Lesniak

     In today's world, there are numerous examples of conflict between groups. Differences can arise between two groups based on differences in ethnicity, race, religion, or a combination of these factors. One particular example of group conflict is the clash between Israelis and Russian immigrants (91.7% Jewish). Lisa Beyer has written an article entitled "Campaign for Respect" (Time, 6/3/96) which describes some of the problems people in the area have been experiencing. One who reads the article looking for a social psychological perspective will identify the Israelis as being the in-group and the Russian immigrants as being the out-group.

     Many Israelis hold a negative stereotype of the Russian immigrants. Many Israelis perceive the Russians to be lowlifes who drink too much. However, many of the Russians are said to be generally "well educated, highly industrious, and disciplined" (Beyer, 1996). The social psychological principle of prejudice is being exhibited in this situation. Prejudice according to Peterson (1958), is prejudgement before knowledge that is an evaluation of an ethnic or other group and its individual members and an incomplete or otherwise inadequate factual basis to this evaluation. (Peterson, 1958, p. 342)

     What is the origin of the prejudice that fuels these conflicts? Some believe that humans have an inherent dislike for groups of disimiliar values and beliefs. This can lead to prejudice. Another theory, the realistic conflict theory looks at the role of competition for the development of prejudice. The realistic conflict theory states that this competition for valuable but limited resources leads to prejudice. In the conflict in Israel there is competition between the two groups for economic and political resources. The Russian immigrants are trying to gain seats in Israel's parliament. The article states "the immigrant's party only deepens the diversion between the newcomers and the Israeli mainstream"(Beyer, 1996). This is another example of the realistic conflict theory.

     All facets of a person should be considered before they are judged. The Russians are may be heavier drinkers than the Israelis, but drinking plays a more dominant role in Russian culture than it does in Israeli culture. Psychologist Allport (1954/1995) says that psychological (personal), cognitive, motivational, social, cultural, and historical factors come into play and can operate simultaneously (cited by Devine, 1995, p. 487).

References

     Allport, G.W. (1995). The nature of prejudice. Cited by P. Devine in A. Tesser (Ed.),
Advanced Social Psychology, p. 487. McGraw-Hill: New York. (Original work published 1954).

     Beyer, L. (1996, June 3). Campaign for respect. Time International (http://pathfinder.com/@@YVftgwYAS0T7KuSm/time/international/1996/960603/israel.html).

     Devine,P. (1995). Prejudice and out-group perception. In A. Tesser (Ed.),
Advanced Social Psychology. McGraw-Hill: New York.

     Peterson, W., (1958). Prejudice in American Society: A critique of some
recent formulations. Commentary, 26, 342-348.

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