When they want to take away what is “ours”: Collective ownership threat and negative reactions towards refugees

People can display negative reactions towards those who challenge their sense of psychological ownership. We tested whether natives would show negativity refugees upon perceiving collective ownership threat (COT)—the fear losing control over a territory that is perceived to be “ours”—in the context mass immigration (Syrian in Turkey; total N = 1,598). Correlational Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated COT associated with intolerance through intergroup emotions (anger specifically). Preregistered experimental studies while there was no causal effect neighborhoods relatively high refugee concentration (Study 3a), decreased outgroup tolerance increased defensive Syrian via anger among more general community sample 3b). The wider implications one’s territorial are discussed.