Argumentation and social re-presentation : a study in coalitional psychology

Abstract

This thesis formulates an action-oriented approach to social re-presentation, whereby representation functions for joint projects, and social and alternative re-presentation are systemically related. Furthermore, this thesis posits an intrinsic link between social re-presentation and argumentation, which can be understood in view of a coalitional social ontology. Accordingly, a minimal model of argumentation was devised, to study people’s claims for or against a joint project of public interest. Given prior literature showing the depth of anti-Arab views in Malta, these developments were applied to Arab-Maltese relations. In Study 1, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Arabs (N = 15) on their views for/against the integration of Arabs in Malta. Data were analysed using minimal argumentation analysis. Patterns in participants’ arguments concerned: the view that integration is difficult but necessary; the view that the Maltese are resistant to integration; and the de-essentialism of both ingroup and outgroup. Study 2 developed two ecologically valid quantitative scales meant for studying Arab-Maltese relations in Malta. These scales were developed using a novel expert-based rank-order scaling procedure. Arabs’ claims (from Study 1) and the Maltese’s claims (from Sammut et al., 2018) on integration were thematically categorized to compose scale items, which were subsequently ranked by intercultural relations experts in order of integrationism, and analysed using sensitivity analysis. The two scales were collectively termed the Intergroup Relations Scales: (i) the Re-presentation for Integration Scale (RFI) measured participants’ views on integration (social re-presentation); and (ii) the Alternative Re-presentation of Integration Scale (AROI) measured participants’ views of the outgroup’s views on integration (alternative re-presentation). Study 3 surveyed Maltese (n = 215) and Arab (n = 103) views on integration. Data were analysed using multiple regression analyses. Findings showed that alternative re-presentation of the outgroup’s project (sub-dimensions of AROI) significantly predicted ingroup social re-presentation for/against integration (RFI). On the basis of these findings, recommendations were made for ameliorating Arab-Maltese relations in Malta. In essence, this thesis demonstrates a systemic link between social and alternative representation, and the relevance of this link—as observed in participants’ qualitative arguments and quantitative positionings—for coalitional psychology and intergroup relations research.