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Attitudes Towards Asylum Seekers: The Australian Experience

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Peace Psychology in Australia

Part of the book series: Peace Psychology Book Series ((PPBS))

Abstract

Australian public opinion towards asylum seekers has often been unwelcoming at best and hostile at worst. This chapter examines the psychological underpinnings of these negative sentiments, exploring the demographic, ideological and personality factors associated with them, and the multiple, interwoven components of them. We examine the extent to which antipathy towards asylum seekers reflects racism, nationalism, social norms and a variety of emotional dynamics (fear, anger and disgust) and close with an examination of the ways in which asylum seekers are represented as less than human. Implications for changing public sentiment are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Nick Haslam & Elise Holland

Authors
  1. Nick Haslam
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  2. Elise Holland
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072, Queensland, Australia

    Diane Bretherton

  2. , School of Law, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia

    Nikola Balvin

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Haslam, N., Holland, E. (2012). Attitudes Towards Asylum Seekers: The Australian Experience. In: Bretherton, D., Balvin, N. (eds) Peace Psychology in Australia. Peace Psychology Book Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1403-2_7

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