Browsing by Author "Jaspal, Rusi"
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Item Metadata only Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in Iran(Taylor & Francis, 2013) Jaspal, RusiAnti-Semitism and anti-Zionism constitute two important ideological building blocks of the Islamic Republic of Iran, yet there is no existing research into the psychosocial motives underlying the institutional manifestation of these sentiments. Applying the tenets of identity process theory (IPT) to the Iranian case study, this article explores (i) how anti- Semitism and anti-Zionism may help restore feelings of belonging in the Muslim world and beyond; (ii) the interrelations between in-group and out- group self-efficacy; (iii) the psychosocial motivation to maintain Shiite ideology and Khomeini’s legacy; and (iv) the construction of Jews and Israel in terms of a threat to group continuityItem Embargo Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism in the British Pakistani Muslim community(2018) Jaspal, RusiAntisemitism is often described as an irrational, age-old prejudice that must be eradicated, while in many social and political contexts anti-Zionism tends to be discussed in terms of a legitimate stance on Israel, a “rogue state.” Antisemitism evokes images of fascism, extremism and genocide. Conversely, anti-Zionism is often represented in relation to anti-fascism, anti-racism and minority rights. Yet, both in fact constitute forms of prejudice – antisemitism targets Jews, while anti-Zionism targets the Jewish State. Correlational and discursive empirical research suggests that antisemitism and anti-Zionism often become blurred in the minds and rhetoric of individuals - they can become less delineable than is often argued to be the case (see Cohen, Jussim, Harber & Bhasin, 2009; Jaspal, 2015). Over seventy years after the discovery of the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, antisemitism continues to bedevil contemporary European societies. There have been many empirical studies of antisemitism and, more recently, of anti-Zionism, focussing largely on the correlates and predictors of these forms of prejudice (e.g. Baum, 2009; Cohen et al., 2009; Konig, Eisinga & Scheepers, 2000). It has been observed in several writings that acts of antisemitism in Europe are increasingly perpetrated by disaffected Muslim youths, who may cite anti-Zionist causes for their actions. Accordingly, some recent research into antisemitism and anti-Zionism in contemporary European societies have focused on Muslim communities (Jaspal, 2014a; 2015; Jikeli & Allouche-Benayoun, 2013; Kressel, 2012), particularly in the context of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, which remains a pressing political issue among many Muslims in Europe (Ahmed, 2005; Ansari, 2005). Contemporary debates have sought to explore convergences and divergences between antisemitism, which most rational people would recognise as a social evil, and anti-Zionism, which many view as a legitimate political position. Some commentators assert that it is perfectly reasonable to espouse an anti-Zionist position and that this is unrelated to antisemitism (Corrigan, 2009), while others argue that anti-Zionism does indeed amount to “new antisemitism” (Chesler, 2003). These debates have been covered elsewhere (see Jaspal, 2014a) and, thus, will not be repeated in this chapter. Rather, the chapter focuses on the nature of, and the inter-relations between, antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the British Pakistani Muslim community – one of the largest Muslim communities in Britain. More specifically, the aim of the chapter is to describe how a sample of British Pakistani Muslims think and talk about Jews and Israel, as well as the role that identity processes play in the formation and maintenance of outgroup attitudes in this context.Item Metadata only Antisemitism and anti-Zionism: representation, cognition and everyday talk.(Ashgate, 2014) Jaspal, RusiAntisemitism and anti-Zionism are complex, delineable, yet inter-related social-psychological phenomena. While antisemitism has been described as an irrational, age-old prejudice, anti-Zionism is often represented as a legitimate response to a ’rogue state’. Drawing upon media and visual sources and rich interview data from Iran, Britain and Israel, Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism: Representation, Cognition and Everyday Talk examines the concepts of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, tracing their evolution and inter-relations, and considering the distinct ways in which they are manifested, and responded to, by Muslim and Jewish communities in Iran, Britain and Israel. Providing insights from social psychology, sociology and history, this interdisciplinary analysis sheds light on the pivotal role of the media, social representations and identity processes in shaping antisemitism and anti-Zionism. As such, this provocative book will be of interest to social scientists working on antisemitism, race and ethnicity, political sociology and political science, media studies and Middle Eastern politics.Item Metadata only “Arabic is the language of the Muslims - that’s how it was supposed to be”: exploring language and religious identity through reflective accounts from young British-born Asians.(Taylor and Francis, 2010) Jaspal, Rusi; Coyle, AdrianThis study explores how a group of young British-born South Asians understood and defined their religious and linguistic identities, focusing upon the role played by heritage languages and liturgical languages and by religious socialisation. Twelve British-born South Asians were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interview transcripts were subjected to interpretative pheno- menological analysis. Four superordinate themes are reported. These addressed participants’ meaning-making regarding ‘‘the sanctification of language’’ and the consequential suitability of ‘‘the liturgical language as a symbol of religious community’’; the themes of ‘‘ethnic pride versus religious identity’’ and ‘‘linguistic Otherness and religious alienation’’ concerned potential ethno-linguistic barriers to a positive religious identity. Findings are interpreted in terms of concepts drawn from relevant identity theories and tentative recommendations are offered concerning the facilitation of positive religious and ethnic identities.Item Unknown Arranged Marriage, Identity and Psychological Wellbeing among British Asian Gay Men(Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 2013) Jaspal, RusiThe cultural expectation of an arranged heterosexual marriage poses social and psychological challenges for British Asian gay men. This article examines the diary accounts of twelve British Asian gay men concerning their perceptions and feelings concerning marriage in face of familial pressure to get married and the implications for identity processes and psychological wellbeing. Data were analyzed qualitatively using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Identity Process Theory. The following themes are outlined: (1) “Bringing it up”: Coercion, threat and negative emotions; (2) Sidestepping marriage: Strategies for coping with threat; and (3) “A no-win situation”: Marriage as a dilemma. Familial coercion into marriage can threaten identity and psychological wellbeing and individuals will deploy intrapsychic/interpersonal coping strategies with have limited long-term efficacy.Item Unknown The Attitudes toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Scale: Development and Validation(2019-04-14) Jaspal, Rusi; Lopes, Barbara; Maatouk, IsmaelPrEP is a novel, clinically effective biomedical HIV prevention tool but it has not met with widespread public acceptance. In this article, the results of a study designed to develop a scale for measuring attitudes toward PrEP is presented. The psychometric properties of the scale are described for use in both the general population and in patient samples. 222 university students completed the Attitudes toward PrEP Scale (APS) and additional measures of attitudes toward gay men, Black Africans and condom use. The APS comprised 3 factors (Attitudes toward the Science of PrEP, Perception of Sexual Health Risks of PrEP, and Perception of Dangerous Effects of PrEP) which explained 49.31% of the variance. The 14-item APS had a good internal consistency, α=.72, and satisfactory concurrent validity with measures of condom use, and attitudes toward social groups associated with PrEP. Additional studies in other non-student samples are required to assess the external validity of the scale.Item Open Access Barriers to HIV Treatment as Prevention (TasP) in men who have sex with men in the Eastern Mediterranean Region(Oxford University Press, 2020-01-09) Maatouk, Ismael; Jaspal, RusiThe significant reduction in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viremia to ‘undetectable’ levels (HIV plasma viral load < 40 copies/ml) in response to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) removes the risk of HIV transmission.1 This approach, known as ‘treatment as prevention’ (TasP), has proven to be successful especially in men who have sex with men (MSM) and in other key populations. In view of the demonstrable effectiveness of TasP, significant efforts have been made to increase public awareness and understanding of this approach in western, industrialized societies, such as the USA and the UK. However, this has not been the case in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR according to World Health Organization (WHO) includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), in which HIV remains a highly stigmatized condition, which is seldom discussed mainly because of its association with MSM—a stigmatized group in EMR society. In this editorial, we discuss the effectiveness of TasP in major observational studies and current levels of public understanding of, and belief in, TasP, with a focus on MSM in the EMR. We argue that by increasing the awareness and understanding of TasP in MSM in the EMR could enable the epidemic to move closer toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) target of 90-90-90 (The UNAIDS ‘90-90-90’ strategy calls for 90% of HIV-infected individuals to be diagnosed by 2020, 90% of whom will be on ART and 90% of whom will achieve sustained virologic suppression. Reaching these targets by 2020 will reduce the HIV epidemic to a low-level endemic disease by 2030).Item Open Access Black and minority ethnic men who have sex with men Project evaluation and systematic review.(Public Health England, 2016-05) Jaspal, Rusi; Fish, Julie; Papaloukas, P.; Williamson, I. R.Public Health England (PHE) has been funded by the MAC AIDS Foundation to deliver a programme of focused work to improve the health and wellbeing of black and minority ethnic (BME) men who have sex with men (MSM). PHE’s wider work on the health and wellbeing of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men has identified a trio of interacting health inequalities which disproportionately affect these men, these are: (i) sexual health and HIV, (ii) mental health and wellbeing and alcohol, and (iii) drug and tobacco use. The work to develop the MSM health and wellbeing framework identified that in most areas BME MSM experience even more extreme inequalities than their white MSM counterparts. This may well be a result of the compound impacts of discrimination based on ethnicity and sexual orientation from multiple communities and dimensions. The BME MSM project provides an opportunity to increase the organisational understanding of the relationships between compound identity and health inequalities as well as increasing the visibility of these issues across the health and social care sector. Key outcomes for the project include improving the support for BME MSM through health and social care and community sector services as well as increasing the evidence base for interventions targeted at this specific community group The project has four key components: • increasing understanding of BME MSM identity, health and social care needs and access issues among BME, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and faith third sector organisations and leaders through three structured and interconnected learning sets • increase understanding of sexual orientation and minority identity among healthcare professionals through an e-learning module • increase the potential for visibility of BME LGBT people through boosting the relevant contents of the NHS and PHE image bank • pilot and evaluate five different models of direct intervention for BME MSMItem Metadata only Bridging micro, meso and macro processes in social psychology(Springer, 2016) Jaspal, Rusi; Carriere, K.; Moghaddam, F.In this chapter, we argue that a multilevel analysis of social psychological phenomena, which acknowledges cognition and behavior at macro, meso, and micro levels and the interrelations between them, is necessary. We propose a theoretical synthesis of Identity Process Theory and Social Representations Theory as one way of integrating the three prime levels of analysis and of providing an analysis that is social psychological in essence. We discuss how symbols interact with human identity in the context of the Islamic Veil and the Confederate Flag, and how human rights and duties are communicated and processed in societies. We argue that social representations, or cultural carriers, are continually being transformed, as individuals and groups compete to make their own meaning systems dominant in interpersonal, intergroup, and societal relationships.Item Open Access British Sikh Identity and the Struggle for Distinctiveness and Continuity(Wiley, 2012) Jaspal, RusiSikhs constitute a high proportion of the ethnic minority population in Britain. Yet, social psychologists have largely neglected this demographically important religious group, leaving much of the theorising to anthropologists and sociologists. The present study explores how a group of British-born Sikhs understood and defined their Sikh identities, focussing upon strategies for safeguarding the continuity and distinctiveness of this identity. Ten individuals were interviewed. Informed by identity process theory, the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Three superordinate themes are reported, namely (i) “Freedom and gender equality”: the ‘essence’ of Sikh identity; (ii) Continuing the legacy of the Gurus; and (iii) Maintaining group continuity and distinctiveness in a threatening social context. Theoretical and practical implications of the research are discussed, particularly in relation to intergroup relations.Item Open Access Caste and Identity Processes among British Sikhs in the Midlands(Taylor and Francis, 2016-06-27) Jaspal, Rusi; Takhar, O. K.This article examines the role of caste in the lives and identities of a small sample of young Sikhs in the English Midlands, using social psychological theory. In many academic writings, there is an implicit representation of caste as a negative aspect of South Asian culture and religion, and of caste identification as a means of oppressing vulnerable outgroups. Twenty-three young Sikhs were interviewed, and the qualitative data were analysed using Identity Process Theory. The following themes are discussed: (i) Caste as a Dormant Social Category, (ii) Anchoring the Caste Ingroup to Positive Social Representations, and (iii) Caste as an Inherent or Constructed Aspect of Identity? It is argued that neither caste nor caste-based prejudice appear to be prominent in the lives and identities of our interviewees but that, because caste is an important symbolic aspect of identity which can acquire salient in particular contexts, some Sikhs may wish to maintain this identity though endogamy. What is understood as caste-based prejudice can be better understood in terms of the downward comparison principle in social psychology. The implications for caste legislation are discussed.Item Open Access Caste, social stigma and identity processes(SAGE, 2011) Jaspal, RusiCaste persists as an important socio-psychological phenomenon in many spheres of Indian social life and particularly within village contexts. It is argued that socio-psychological insights into caste identity and caste- based stigma may complement ongoing sociological and anthropological research into caste. Drawing upon identity process theory, this article explores the possible functions performed by caste-based stigma both for the higher caste groups (HCGs) and the ‘Scheduled Caste’ (SC) groups. It examines how the maintenance of the social hierarchy impli- cated in the caste system, the spatial and endogamous separation of caste groups and the historical division of labour in accordance with caste group affiliation, may impinge upon identity processes among both groups. It is argued that caste group affiliation and caste-based stigma have dif- ferential and sometimes conflicting implications for identity processes among the HCGs and SCs. While negative social representations of the SCs may threaten self-esteem among SC members, it may enhance the self-esteem, meaning and distinctiveness principles among the HCGs. The systematic positioning of the caste ingroup and outgroups within the social matrix may enhance meaning and distinctiveness among both the HCGs and SCs. This article highlights a potential rationale underlying caste group members’ resistance to social change vis-à-vis caste, even among those who might be expected to benefit from such change. Some theoretical points are made in the form of testable hypotheses and methodological issues in caste-related research are considered.Item Open Access Climate change and 'climategate' in online reader comments: a mixed methods study(Royal Geographical Society, 2012) Koteyko, Nelya; Jaspal, Rusi; Nerlich, BrigitteClimate change has rarely been out of the public spotlight in the first decade of this century. The high-profile international meetings and controversies such as ‘climategate’ have highlighted the fact that it is as much a political issue as it is a scientific one, while also drawing our attention to the role of social media in reflecting, promoting or resisting such politicisation. In this article, we propose a framework for analysing one type of social media venue that so far has received little attention from social scientists – online reader comments. Like media reporting on climate change, reader comments on this reporting contribute to the diverse, complex and contested discourses on climate change, and can reveal the meanings and discursive resources brought to the ongoing debate by laypeople rather than political elites. The proposed framework draws on research in computer- mediated communication, corpus linguistics and discourse analysis and takes into account both the content of such ‘lay talk’ and its linguistic characteristics within the specific parameters of the web-based context. Using word frequencies, qualitative study of co-text and user ratings, we analyse a large volume of comments published on the UK tabloid newspaper website at two different points in time – before and after the East Anglia controversy. The results reveal how stereotypes of science and politics are appropriated in this type of discourse, how readers’ constructions of climate science have changed after ‘climategate’, and how climate-sceptic arguments are adopted and contested in computer-mediated peer-to-peer interaction.Item Open Access Constructing and protecting identity in a diverse higher education context(Taylor and Francis, 2015) Jaspal, RusiUK higher education (HE) has become increasingly diverse. Despite the clear social, economic and pedagogical benefits of diversity, it can also be challenging for identity as it may bring about psychological change and compel both the ‘dominant majority’ and ‘minorities’ to adjust to the presence, identities and worldviews of the other. Drawing upon Identity Process Theory from social psychology, the present article explores the potential challenges to identity in a diverse HE context and how students may subsequently cope with these challenges. After a brief overview of Identity Process Theory, two case studies are presented that focus on how social class and ethnic/religious diversity can impact identity. The more general aim of this article is to develop the basic tools for enhancing students’ learning experience in a diverse HE context. It is suggested that HE institutions need to support students from diverse backgrounds in ways that are conducive to a positive identity, and that they must facilitate a shared superordinate identity which can be viewed as inclusive and available to all, regardless of class, ethnicity, religion or any other identity.Item Open Access The Construction of British National Identity among British South Asians(Taylor and Francis, 2012) Jaspal, Rusi; Cinnirella, MarcoThis paper explores the social psychological aspects of British national identifica- tion among British South Asians, which constitutes the largest ethnic minority group in Britain. Identity process theory can elucidate the social and psycholo- gical ‘functions’ of Britishness for social actors, offering a holistic account of national identification within this population. The paper provides a discussion of nationhood and the construction of national identity, temporal factors in national identification, its cognitive and affective aspects, the psychological ‘functionality’ of Britishness, and its social representations. It is argued that a civic, instrumental conception of Britishness might facilitate access to this identity among British South Asians.Item Open Access The construction of ethnic identity: insights from identity process theory(SAGE, 2012) Jaspal, Rusi; Cinnirella, MarcoEthnicity has received much empirical and theoretical attention in the social sciences. Yet, it has scarcely been explored in terms of its relationship with the motivational principles of identity. Here it is argued that there is much heuristic and predictive value in applying identity process theory (IPT), a socio-psychological model of identity threat, to the substantive literature on ethnicity. The paper explores the potential psychological benefits of ethnic identification. Key theoretical strands from anthropology and sociol- ogy, such as the ‘relational self’ in ethnic identification, are discussed in relation to IPT. The intergroup dimension of ethnic identification is explored through the discussion of ethnic ‘boundaries’. Finally, the paper discusses the construct of ‘hybridization’ in rela- tion to social psychology. This paper attempts to reconcile psychological and sociolog- ical perspectives on ethnic identification, advocating a multi-methodological approach. Key theoretical points are outlined in the form of testable hypotheses which are open to empirical exploration.Item Embargo Content analysis, thematic analysis and discourse analysis(Sage, 2020-01-01) Jaspal, RusiLEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this chapter, readers should understand: • The main tenets of content analysis, thematic analysis and discourse analysis; • The assumptions of, approaches within, and applications of these methodologies; • The stages of analysis in studies using content analysis, thematic analysis and discourse analysis; • How to conduct content analysis, thematic analysis and discourse analysis in relation to the same text; • How to evaluate studies using content analysis, thematic analysis and discourse analysis; • The potential pitfalls of the three approaches.Item Open Access Contesting Science by Appealing to its Norms: Readers Discuss Climate Science in The Daily Mail.(SAGE, 2012) Jaspal, Rusi; Nerlich, Brigitte; Koteyko, NelyaThis study examines the rhetorical aspects of social contestation of climate change in reader comments published in the Daily Mail, subsequent to climategate. The following themes are reported: (1) denigration of climate scientists to contest hegemonic representations, (2) delegitimiza- tion of pro–climate change individuals by disassociation from science, and (3) outright denial: rejecting hegemonic social representations of climate change. The study outlines the discursive strategies employed in order to construct social representations of climate change, to contest alternative rep- resentations, and to convince others of the validity of these representations. It examines how social representations of science are formed, maintained, and disseminated.Item Open Access Coping With Perceived Abusive Supervision: The Role of Paranoia(SAGE, 2018-08-29) Lopes, Barbara; Jaspal, Rusi; Kamau, CarolineTwo studies (a cross-sectional survey of 90 UK workers and an experiment with 100 UK workers) examined the cognitive and behavioral effects of abusive supervision. Both studies confirmed the hypothesis that workers who experience abusive supervision show paranoia and this makes them more prone to a type of cognitive error called the “sinister attribution error”. This is where workers misattribute innocent workplace events such as tripping over something or hearing colleagues laughing to malevolent motives such as wanting to harm or mock them. Study 1 also showed that abusive supervision is associated with lower wellbeing. Perceived organizational support buffers these effects, and this is associated with workers making less sinister attribution errors, thereby protecting wellbeing. Study 2 explored the role of contextual cues by exposing workers to images of abusive supervision. This increased their paranoia and contributed to workers making sinister attribution errors when they were asked to interpret workplace events. Moreover, depending on the types of contextual cues, workers were more likely to express intention of workplace deviance after thinking about past experiences of abusive supervision. We recommend that corporate ethical responsibilities include training managers and workers about the negative cognitive and mental health effects of abusive supervision.Item Open Access Coping with perceived ethnic prejudice on the gay scene(Taylor and Francis, 2017-02-02) Jaspal, RusiThere has been only cursory research into the sociological and psychological aspects of ethnic/racial discrimination among ethnic minority gay and bisexual men, and none that focuses specifically upon British ethnic minority gay men. This article focuses on perceptions of intergroup relations on the gay scene among young British South Asian gay men and the effects of perceived prejudice for their identities. Twelve young British South Asian gay men were interviewed about their experiences. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which yielded the following themes: (a) ethnic otherization on the gay scene, (b) mechanisms of rejection on the gay scene, and (c) nowhere to turn: double rejection and identity threat. The data indicate that young British South Asian gay men may face multiple layers of rejection—racism and homophobia from the general population, homophobia from the ethnoreligious community, and racism from White British gay men. This can deprive young British South Asian gay men of the only remaining source of social support that they perceive—namely the sexual ingroup—inducing negative social and psychological outcomes for identity processes.