Being tolerated and being discriminated against: Links to psychological well‐being through threatened social identity needs

Abstract

We investigated whether and how the experience of being tolerated and of being discriminated against are associated with psychological well-being in three correlational studies among three stigmatized groups in Turkey (LGBTI group members, people with disabilities, and ethnic Kurds, total N = 862). Perceived threat to social identity needs (esteem, meaning, belonging, efficacy, and continuity) was examined as a mediator in these associations. Structural equation models showed evidence for the detrimental role of both toleration and discrimination experiences on positive and negative psychological well-being through higher levels of threatened social identity needs. A mini-meta analysis showed small to moderate effect sizes and toleration was associated with lower positive well-being through threatened needs among all three stigmatized groups.

The Negative Implications of Being Tolerated: Tolerance From the Target’s Perspective

“…Although there is a relatively large social psychological literature on the targets’ perspective that examines what it means to be stigmatized, rejected, excluded, ostracized, discriminated and to experience microaggressions (Lui & Quezada, 2019; Major et al, 2018; Major & O’Brien, 2005; Richman & Leary, 2009), such work has not examined the impact of the distinct yet common (Bagci et al, 2020; Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, & Adelman, 2020; Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, Adelman, & Yogeeswaran, 2020) experience of being tolerated. This is unfortunate for theoretical and applied reasons.…”

“…It is also important to examine the differences and similarities between situations of being tolerated from, for example, forms of discrimination, microaggressions, and incivility. Research suggests that the experience of being tolerated predicts threatened social identity needs and reduced psychological well-being above and beyond discrimination (Bagci et al, 2020; Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, & Adelman, 2020; Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, Adelman, & Yogeeswaran, 2020). Yet, similar psychological processes might be involved in these experiences, and there may be similar individual characteristics and situational and contextual conditions that moderate the impact of toleration and of facing other forms of negativity.…”

“…Likewise, the consequences of being tolerated might depend on awareness of toleration, the cognitive appraisal of the reasons for being tolerated, and the perceived equality or inequality of the intergroup relations. Research among different minority groups in Turkey (Bagci et al, 2020), the Netherlands (Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, & Adelman, 2020), and the United States (Cvetkovska, Verkuyten, Adelman, & Yogeeswaran, 2020) found that the experience of being tolerated is quite common among disadvantaged minority members. However, given the complexity of tolerance and the associated benefits and costs, it is important to consider whether and how people perceive and interpret being tolerated.…”

“…Considering the nature of being tolerated, we propose that it can be threatening to the fulfillment of several social identity needs. For example, in research among Kurdish minority members, LGBTI members, and disabled people living in Turkey, higher perceived tolerance was associated with a lower sense of identity-based self-esteem, belonging, and control (Bagci et al, 2020). These associations were found over and beyond the negative correlates of perceived discrimination.…”

Societal acceptance increases Muslim-Gay identity integration for highly religious individuals… but only when the ingroup status is stable

“…Recent research shows that perceived discrimination and toleration among LGBTQ+ people in Turkey undermines their wellbeing through threatening their identity needs such as self-esteem, belonging, and meaning (Bagci et al, 2020). Moreover, people tend to overestimate the rejection regarding their identities by society (Eisner et al, 2020).…”