The purpose of this pilot study was to explore how Estonia, Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian university students conceptualize the meaning of foreigners. The present study examines similarities and differences between Estonian (N=118), Latvian (N=101), Lithuanian (N=101), and Russian (N=92) university students’ understandings about foreigners by self-reported open-ended questionnaire. The applied categorical quantitative analysis of the data was the basis for statistical analysis. Results revealed quite distinctive meanings associated with foreigners when comparing four samples' conceptualizations. The meaning of foreigners among university students was generally conceptualized in society level as an exclusion of people connected with different nationality and language, whereby Russian respondents empathized more differences in citizenship and three Baltic states respondents in attitudes and values. Overall acceptance or unacceptance of foreigners tended to depend on the level – foreigners were more accepted in personal level and unaccepted in society level. Additionally, all university students were generally open and tolerant toward foreigners in the area of individual differences evoked from cultural enrichment, but Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian students were more prone to accept foreigners when there was a mutual respect with common values, and Estonians expressed more the attitude about equality of people. University students in four study groups were generally agree, that foreigners have influenced them more positive than negative way, but reasons were different: Lithuanians empathize more sympathy and helping behavior; Estonian and Latvian more enlargement of knowledge’s with increase of tolerance; and Russian students’ opinions were more connected with undirect influence by means of media, art and literature.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPsychological Applications and Trends 2019
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings
EditorsClara Pracana, Michael Wang
Place of PublicationLisbon
PublisherGIMA
Pages124-129
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)978-989-54312-2-9
StatePublished - 2019
EventInternational Psychological Applications Conference and Trends 2019 - Zagreb, Croatia
Duration: 4 May 20196 May 2019

Publication series

NamePsychological Applications and Trends 
ISSN (Print)2184-2205

Conference

ConferenceInternational Psychological Applications Conference and Trends 2019
Abbreviated titleInPACT 2019
Country/TerritoryCroatia
CityZagreb
Period4/05/196/05/19

    Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences(all)

    Research areas

  • Concept of foreigners, attitudes towards foreigners, university students

ID: 61956946