Relational Models Explanation on the Perception of the Locals Towards Syrian Migrants in Turkiye

The Relationship model theory (RMT) argues that across all cultures, regardless of the level of interaction in social life, four fundamental cognitive representations influence the determination of social justice, group decisions, moral judgements, the organisation of labour, and the attribution of social values to objects, space, and time. RMT labels these types of relationships: Communal sharing (CS), authority ranking (AR), equality matching (EM), and market pricing (MP). Alongside social relationships, individuals have group-based emotions independent of individual feelings towards different group members.

This study (N=404) explores the role of relational models in understanding how Turkish citizens' group-based emotions towards Syrian migrants and their subsequent emotional reactions after a request from Syrians unfold. Participants responded to a hypothetical scenario involving Syrians seeking citizenship for their children born in Turkey, and their reactions were analyzed through the lens of RMT.

The model revealed that combined CS/AR and MP relationship types played a mediating role in the locals' group-based emotional reactions. The findings shows that, in line with vertical collectivist societies, norms favor the use of resources for the group in CS and prioritize the in group members (the locals) in the distribution of resources in AR. The adoption of norms based on MP in the model may be explained by the influence of neoliberalism. The cost (economic burden) to the country's economy affects negative emotions towards migrants. In the context of this study, the combination of CS/AR and MP relationship types aligns with the neoliberal societal structure, where all aspects of life, including social relationships, are evaluated based on market rules and economic criteria. The citizenship concept based on communal relationships focusing on public and common interests is redefined with neoliberalism to align with MP relationship concepts, determined by market conditions, as long as competitive positions are maintained.