Predictors of majority members' acculturation preferences: Experimental evidence

A study was conducted to test experimentally whether majority members' perceptions of which acculturation strategies minority members prefer would causally impact on majority members' own acculturation preferences, especially their preference for integration. Participants (N = 113) were exposed to videos in which actors who posed as Pakistani minority members voiced different acculturation preferences (integration, assimilation, separation or control condition). Their views were presented as representative of their ethnic group. The effect of this on white British majority participants' own acculturation preferences was measured. As expected, perceived acculturation preferences significantly impacted on own acculturation preferences. In line with predictions, participants' level of prejudice significantly moderated these effects.

► The paper provides rare experimental evidence about acculturation processes.
► Majority members' acculturation choices depend on choices they impute to minorities.
► An imputed desire for culture adoption increases support for integration (SFI).
► Imputed desire for culture maintenance and prejudice interact in their effect on SFI.
► Imputed desire for culture maintenance only increases SFI under low prejudice.