Realistic conflict theory states that intergroup conflict can be mitigated via intergroup contact and is mediated by empathy and reduced anxiety (Pettigrew et al. 2011) – it can be assumed that intergroup contact is maintained via distancing between two groups, and with limited empathy and high anxiety. This latter assumption is supported by the Zárate 2003 study, which reports how labeling the in-group as distinct from the out-group, regardless of a positive or negative distinction, creates and maintains prejudice (Zárate, 103). Conflict between U.S. citizens and Central American immigrants exemplifies the findings from both studies.
The language and articles reported by news outlets offers examples of the author’s sentiments towards immigrants, as well as the opinions of the news’ clientele. In November of 2019, there was an incident between Mexican cartels and a dual-citizen U.S. Mexican family resulting in the death of nine Americans. Anti-immigrant platforms like Fox News reported the “brutal murder” and the “slaying” of these Americans (Halon, 2019). The strong, vilifying language used here demonstrates several concepts within the intergroup relations: clientele generated feelings of intergroup conflict and competition; a strong, negative distinction between Americans and Mexicans generated by the news outlet; and significant lack of empathy for Mexicans and very high anxiety within Americans. All of these concepts point to intergroup conflict on the part of the Americans towards immigrants.
On the other hand, pro-immigrant news outlets report stories in a more humanizing lens. For example, The Washington Times reported a story of a Salvadoran woman, fleeing violence in Mexico, being deported to Mexico because of a biased judge and an exclusionary prosecution who claimed that America is “not her country” (Verza, 2019). These news outlets generate pro-immigrant sentiments generate empathy and paint immigrants as a part of humanity and not a dangerous out-group.
Author: Pettigrew, T.
Publication date: 2011, June 14
Article title: Recent advances in intergroup contact theory
Name of periodical: International Journal of Intercultural Relations
URL: https://canvas.uoregon.edu/courses/144444/files/7207956/download?wrap=1
Author: Zarate, M.
Publication date: 2002, February 22
Article title: Cultural threat and perceived realistic group conflict as dual predictors of prejudice
Name of periodical: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 40
URL: https://canvas.uoregon.edu/courses/144444/files/7207957/download?wrap=1
Author: Halon, Y.
Publication date: 2019, November 11
Article title: Wake up, this could’ve been any of us’: Tomi Lahren praises Trump’s wall efforts after cartel massacre
Name of periodical: Fox News
URL: https://www.foxnews.com/media/tomi-lahren-praises-trump-wall-efforts-after-cartel-attack
Author: Spagat, E.
Publication date: 2019, November 6
Article title: Migrants live in fear at Mexico-US border as violence flares
Name of periodical: Washington Times
URL: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/6/migrants-live-in-fear-at-mexico-us-border-as-viole/
I found an article from the New York Times similar to your third example, in that it focused on an individual and her experiences as the daughter of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. I think these media accounts have a lot of potential to increase empathy and reduce anxiety for the reason that people get to read about immigrants’ struggles and get the chance to relate to them on a more personal level than through accounts which focus on the group as a whole. I think they are very humanizing articles, as opposed to articles like the one you mentioned from Fox News, which increase Americans’ anxious and fearful reactions towards immigrants.
Great example in how intergroup conflict can maintain or increase prejudices. When the conflict between the two groups resulted in fatalities, then Fox news created more anxiety and less empathy towards the immigrants, shows how the intergroup conflict’s effects could be magnified more through the news. The contrast also shows how America isn’t treating immigrants right through humanizing lens, it’s cruel to send her back to the violence she’s escaping from.