Psychological Foundations of Xenophilia

Understanding and Measuring the Motivational Functions of Exploratory Cross-Cultural Contact

authored by: Stefan Stürmer, Alison E.F. Benbow
Abstract: Two multipart studies (total N = 1,638) were conducted to introduce and test a functional perspective on exploratory cross-cultural contact. Studies 1a and 1b addressed the lack of standardized measures and developed a psychometrically valid inventory of six individual motivational functions: knowledge and understanding, value expression, professional advancement, social development, personal-, and group-image concerns. Studies 2a and 2b produced experimental evidence that different environments offer differing “fulfillment opportunities” such that the motivating potential of a distinct contact function results from a function by environment fit. First, participants were more persuaded by and wanted to visit a cultural center more when it matched their motivational functions (Study 2a). Second, participants showed a preference to choose an intercultural interaction partner with a higher potential over a partner with a lower potential to fulfill their primary cross-cultural contact motivation (Study 2b, preregistered). Theoretical and practical implications of this perspective are discussed.
Organisation(s): Institute of Psychology
External Organisation(s): FernUniversität in Hagen
Type: Article
Journal: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume: 43
Pages: 1487-1502
No. of pages: 16
ISSN: 0146-1672
Publication date: 01.11.2017
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Social Psychology
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217722555 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{d046f47f345c4895b241468f0c3186f6,
title = "Psychological Foundations of Xenophilia: Understanding and Measuring the Motivational Functions of Exploratory Cross-Cultural Contact",
abstract = "Two multipart studies (total N = 1,638) were conducted to introduce and test a functional perspective on exploratory cross-cultural contact. Studies 1a and 1b addressed the lack of standardized measures and developed a psychometrically valid inventory of six individual motivational functions: knowledge and understanding, value expression, professional advancement, social development, personal-, and group-image concerns. Studies 2a and 2b produced experimental evidence that different environments offer differing “fulfillment opportunities” such that the motivating potential of a distinct contact function results from a function by environment fit. First, participants were more persuaded by and wanted to visit a cultural center more when it matched their motivational functions (Study 2a). Second, participants showed a preference to choose an intercultural interaction partner with a higher potential over a partner with a lower potential to fulfill their primary cross-cultural contact motivation (Study 2b, preregistered). Theoretical and practical implications of this perspective are discussed.",
keywords = "cross-cultural exploration, functional approach, measurement, xenophilia",
author = "Stefan St{\"u}rmer and Benbow, {Alison E.F.}",
note = "Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was made possible by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Grant STU 250/5-1, 2 to Stefan St{\"u}rmer. ",
year = "2017",
month = nov,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1177/0146167217722555",
language = "English",
volume = "43",
pages = "1487--1502",
journal = "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin",
issn = "0146-1672",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",
number = "11",
}