Ethnocentrism and Cultural Stereotypes of Muslims in Spain

Abstract

This research studies the relationship between ethnocentrism and Muslim stereotypes in Spain. Stereotypes are defined as positive or negative orientations related to attributes associated with an image of Muslims. After considering the application of a latent variable or a cumulative scale, we chose the latter in order to minimize the effect of missing values. The two strategies (that measure positive or negative stereotypes) are consistent with each other and express complementary measurements. By specifying and adjusting a structural model, we established an empirical relationship between ethnocentrism and stereotypes, controlling for the effect of gender, age, education, income, political ideology, and habitat size. We conclude that there is a direct effect of age and educational level as explanatory variables of ethnocentric feeling, as well as gender, ideological position and habitat size with respect to the presence of positive stereotypes.