Past scholars find that there is a public consensus in the United States on the traits of ideal immigrants. Nevertheless, is there also a consensus on the perceived traits of actual immigrants living in the country? Further, are these perceptions attitudinally consequential? We find no consensus among whites on the composition of the immigrant population in the United States. Further, the immigrant traits they perceive are correlated in specific stereotypical patterns we label “immigrant archetypes.” Using latent class analysis, we find five archetypes. Two of them are extreme—one represents a high-status, documented non-Latino immigrant, which is associated with the most positive immigration attitudes. The other extreme represents a low-status, undocumented Latino man, which is associated with the most restrictionist immigration views. Nevertheless, a second Latino archetype, a better-educated and documented Latina woman working to support her family, is correlated with more positive attitudes than her male counterpart. Archetypes do not seem entirely rooted in objective reality and are stronger predictors of immigration attitudes than most other independent variables. Their existence has significant implications for public opinion dynamics. When researchers, politicians, or journalists reference a single immigrant trait, they may knowingly or unknowingly conjure up entire archetypes in people’s minds.

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谁是“移民”？：白人对移民的不同看法如何塑造他们的态度

过去的学者发现，美国公众对于理想移民的特征存在共识。然而，对于居住在该国的实际移民的感知特征，是否也有共识？此外，这些看法是否在态度上是必然的？我们发现白人对美国移民人口的构成没有共识。此外，他们所感知的移民特征与我们称之为“移民原型”的特定刻板模式相关。使用潜在类别分析，我们发现了五个原型。其中两个是极端的——一个代表地位高、有证件的非拉丁裔移民，这与最积极的移民态度有关。另一个极端代表地位低下、无证的拉丁裔男子，这与最限制移民的观点有关。然而，第二个拉丁裔原型，即受过良好教育和记录在案的拉丁裔女性，努力养家糊口，与男性相比，与更积极的态度相关。原型似乎并不完全植根于客观现实，并且比大多数其他自变量更能预测移民态度。它们的存在对舆论动态具有重要意义。当研究人员、政治家或记者提到单一的移民特征时，他们可能会有意或无意地在人们脑海中勾勒出整个原型。原型似乎并不完全植根于客观现实，并且比大多数其他自变量更能预测移民态度。它们的存在对舆论动态具有重要意义。当研究人员、政治家或记者提到单一的移民特征时，他们可能会有意或无意地在人们脑海中勾勒出整个原型。原型似乎并不完全植根于客观现实，并且比大多数其他自变量更能预测移民态度。它们的存在对舆论动态具有重要意义。当研究人员、政治家或记者提到单一的移民特征时，他们可能会有意或无意地在人们脑海中勾勒出整个原型。