Intercultural relations in plural societies

Canadian Psychology, Feb 1999 by Berry, JW

The 1991 national survey results can now be summarized (see Berry & Kalin 1995; Kalin & Berry, 1995 for details).

Attitudes Towards Diversity. On the scale measuring Multicultural Ideology, 70% were on the positive side of the scale (27% on the negative side), indicating that by a ratio of 2.5 to 1, Canadians generally support Integration. When compared to results from the earlier survey (1974), percentage support rose from 64% support (32% opposed). For Tolerance, 89% were on the tolerant side (9% on the prejudiced side). No comparable scale was used in the earlier survey; hence no trends can be examined. However, it is clear that Canadians are generally tolerant, rather than prejudiced. The joint picture is supported by a correlation of .56 between the two scales.

Attitudes Towards Ethnic Groups. Respondents indicated their degree of comfort being around persons of selected ethnic background. In the national sample there are three important aspects. First, for all groups, members born in Canada were rated more favourably than those who immigrated. Second, while comfort levels were generally high, not all groups receive the same ratings. There is a hierarchy of acceptance in which British-and other European-origin Canadians (but also including Chinese- and Aboriginal-Canadians) are evaluated more positively than other groups (5.5 or higher on the 7-point scale). Third, while there are no differences between ratings given by British- and Other-origin respondents, ratings given by French-origin respondents are noticeably less positive (approximately one scale point below the British and others). These patterns are similar to those found within Quebec by Joly (1996), who used the same "comfort-level" question with two representative samples, one in Montreal, and one in the rest of the province.

The overall high level of "comfort" may indicate that intergroup attitudes really are very positive, or that some degree of desirable responding is present. Taking these comfort levels at their face value, it is clear that respondents do make differential ratings. This has resulted in clear hierarchy of acceptance, but its interpretation is not entirely clear. One possibility is that prejudice (in particular, racism) accounts for these ratings. However, Chinese-Canadians and Aboriginal-Canadians are generally as highly rated as those of European background; thus, a simple racism interpretation is not generally valid. Other explanations include: familiarity with various groups, with those groups who are less numerous and not as long-established in Canada being rated less positively; and similarity, with those whose cultural origins are less similar to the dominant (European-based) population being rated less positively. These two basic explanatory concepts have widespread support in the social psychology of intergroup relations.

Ethnic and Civic Identities. The third area of interest is how people identify themselves. The 1991 survey had three questions dealing with self-identity: an ethnic origin question (similar to the 1991 Census question); an identity question (how respondents usually thought of themselves), with various ethnic options provided, based on answers to the first (origin) question, along with regional and national options (e.g., "Quebecois," "Canadian"); and a strength of identification (on a 7-point scale) analysed for three identities ("Canadian/Canadien"; provincial; ethnic).