Intercultural Relations and Stereotypes among Afghan Immigrants in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Leila Zandi-Navgran; John W Berry; Hossein Afrasiabi

doi:10.29333/ejecs/2370

Authors

Leila Zandi-Navgran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9381-8340
John W Berry https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2587-2879
Hossein Afrasiabi Professor of Sociology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4830-329X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2370

Keywords:

cultural interaction, discrimination, stereotypes, Afghan immigrants, intercultural relations, immigrant adaptation, grounded theory

Abstract

For over four decades, Iran has become increasingly culturally diverse due to the influx of Afghan immigrants. This study explores the dynamics of stereotypes and intercultural relations experienced by Afghan immigrants in Iran. Adopting a constructivist perspective, it seeks to understand the forms of stereotyping and intercultural encounters and the meanings participants attribute to them. Data were collected and analyzed using Constructivist Grounded Theory, which involved initial, focused, and theoretical coding. The analysis revealed eleven core categories: self-superiority attitude, Afghan label, negative perceptions of being Afghan, judging by appearances, feelings of humiliation, striving for acceptance, resilience, identity assimilation, language and accent adaptation, and sedentary orientation. The findings indicate that immigrants encounter three interrelated phenomena in their intercultural relations with natives: negative stereotypes (cognition), negative attitudes (evaluation), and a sense of discrimination (behavior). In response to these challenges, Afghan immigrants engage in strategies such as striving for acceptance, resilience, identity negotiation, language and accent adaptation, and settling into sedentary practices. The study concludes that the intercultural adaptation of Afghan immigrants in Iran remains limited, constrained by structural and social barriers.

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Author Biographies

Leila Zandi-Navgran

Leila Zandi-Navgran is a postdoctoral demography researcher at the University of Tehran, Iran. She has published many articles discussing the integration, acculturation, and intercultural relations of Afghan migrants in Iran. Her research interests encompass international migration and the adaptation, acculturation, and integration of migrants.

John W Berry

John W Berry is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Queen's University, Canada. He obtained his PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Athens, the Université de Genève, and the University of Tallinn. He is a Fellow of numerous academic societies (IACCP, IAAP, IAIR, CPA) and the Royal Society of Canada. His awards include: the Gold Medal for ‘Lifetime Contributions to Canadian Psychology’ from the Canadian Psychological Association; the ‘Lifetime Contribution Award’ from the International Academy for Intercultural Research; and ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to International Psychology’ from the International Union of Psychological Science. He has published over 40 books and over 300 articles and chapters in cross-cultural, intercultural, social, indigenous, and cognitive psychology with various colleagues.

Hossein Afrasiabi, Professor of Sociology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

Hossein Afrasiabi is Professor of Sociology at Yazd University, where he has been teaching since 2011. His primary expertise lies in qualitative research methods, focusing on Grounded Theory. Over the years, he has published over 120 articles, contributing significantly to qualitative sociology. His research interests include social interactions, the sociological aspects of Culture, migration, and family relations.

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