The Nuyorican's Dilemma: Categorization of Returning Migrants in Puerto Rico

Abstract

This study investigated self and social categorization of Puerto Rican returning migrants. A sample of 121 returning migrants (“Nuyoricans”) and 121 non-migrant students evaluated adolescents described as raised in the mainland as more agitated, bolder and more independent than those raised in Puerto Rico. In-group favoritism was observed for intelligence and carefulness. The students also evaluated three target adolescents differing in saliency of Nuyorican attributes and presented through photos and audiotapes. It was found that language characteristics and physical appearance were sufficient for categorizing a target as a “Nuyorican”. The adolescent salient in Nuyorican attributes received a higher score on rejection than the adolescent low in Nuyorican attributes.