Society Study suggests xenophobia may stem from social conformity, not innate bias

[thomas]

While researching cases of haigai shugi (排外主義)—a term that means "exclusion of foreigners and foreign things"—overseas, an Asahi Shimbun reporter noted that the concept can be translated into English using several different expressions, depending on nuance and context. The most direct and forceful equivalent is "hatred of foreigners," rendered in Japanese as gaikokujin ken'o (外国人嫌悪). Other frequently used terms include "anti-foreign sentiment" (反外国人感情 han gaikokujin kanjō) and "contempt for immigrants" (移民蔑視 imin besshi). However, English offers fewer expressions that specifically capture the sense of "exclusion" (排除 haijo) or "ostracisation" (排斥 haiseki), both of which are often embedded in the idea of haigai shugi.

This observation led the reporter to reflect on whether there exists a Japanese term that clearly and explicitly expresses discriminatory thinking. The question arose while watching coverage of the 20 July Upper House election, in which a supporter of the opposition Sanseito (参政党) party remarked, "This is Japan, so of course Japanese people should come first. That's just common sense, isn't it?" To the reporter, the comment exemplified how casually and comfortably the idea of "Japanese First" was being embraced in certain circles—suggesting a deeply rooted, if often unspoken, exclusionary attitude.

Realizing that the wave of populism that's rising around the world has arrived in Japan, I felt down. And it also made me sense that something just doesn't add up. Compared to Europe and the United States, the number of foreigners Japan has let in is extremely small. And yet, the Japanese people are vociferously rejecting foreigners. Why?

In "Kashika Sareru Sabetsu" ("Discrimination Brought to Light"), study author Akira Igarashi highlights an unusual experiment: when Japanese participants were asked whether they supported limiting foreign workers, their responses were more xenophobic when others could see their answers. This contrasts with trends in Europe and the US, where people tend to hide such views in public out of guilt.

Igarashi argues that in Japan, there's a perceived social norm that encourages conformity to anti-foreigner sentiment—people feel they must express such views because they believe the majority does. He links this to Japan's greater tolerance toward xenophobic statements by celebrities and politicians, which would face heavy criticism elsewhere. Even a single exclusionary comment, he warns, can spread quickly if it taps into public frustration. Xenophobia, he stresses, is simply discrimination against foreigners.

VOX POPULI: Study suggests xenophobia as the ‘default’ is a conformity issue | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Ukigumo]

I don't blame people for having 'anti-outsider' feelings and indeed fear since I suspect it's an evolutionary phenomenon that was developed to protect communities from those who might try and steal limited resources of which they have a communal possession. Water, food from trees and shrubs and fertile fishing and hunting zones would have to be protected from outsiders who may have been eyeing up these resources, jealously for the good of their community. Thus unfamiliar faces on the horizon would be viewed with suspicion, especially after previous confrontations and when contact was imminent, aggression.

Twenty first century humans are anatomically and (neuro)physiologically identical to those humans from 100-200,000 years ago so those anti-outsider behaviours, evolved into us are lurking below the thin veneer of our civilisation. It takes intellect to overcome these fears. We have to be rational and deduce that a gaijin arriving at Narita airport for a holiday or one buying an abandoned, dilapidated property and restoring it traditionally at great personal expense into a viable dwelling (as a French ex-girlfriend of mine has done in the face of much opposition from the locals at Fushimi) is unlikely to be a threat in this day and age and indeed enrich their country. The jealousy they feel toward them needs to be intellectually stamped out, and should they commit some perceived transgression, they can be dealt with on an individual basis.

Education is the key since knowledge overcomes irrationality.