Perspective taking can promote short-term inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees.

ABSTRACT: Social scientists have shown how easily individuals are moved to exclude outgroup members. Can we foster inclusion instead? This study leverages one of the most significant humanitarian crises of our time to test whether, and under what conditions, American citizens adopt more inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees. We conduct a nationally representative survey of over 5,000 American citizens in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election and experimentally test whether a perspective-taking exercise increases inclusionary behavior in the form of an anonymous letter supportive of refugees to be sent to the 45th President of the United States. Our results indicate that the perspective-taking message increases the likelihood of writing such a positive letter by two to five pe

SUBMITTER: Adida CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6156655 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature