A psychology experiment with 190 non-Muslim Canadians found that when Muslims were seen as adopting Canadian culture, social exclusion dropped dramatically.
Imagine two Canadian Muslims applying for the same job. Both are equally qualified. Both are friendly and hardworking. But only one gets hired. Why?
According to a new experimental study published in Frontiers in Psychology, the answer may come down to something simple but powerful: cultural similarity. Researchers from the University of Bergen (Norway) and the University of Guelph (Canada) conducted a clever experiment with 190 non-Muslim Canadians. They gave participants different descriptions of Muslim Canadians—some who embraced Canadian culture, some who kept only their religious culture, and some who rejected both.
The results were striking and surprisingly encouraging.
The Experiment: Four Different Muslim Profiles
The researchers created four short “vignettes” (descriptions) of Muslim Canadians:
- Assimilated Muslims: Those who strongly embraced Canadian culture—wearing Western clothes, celebrating Christmas, eating burgers and apple pie, watching hockey, and having mostly non-Muslim friends.
- Integrated Muslims: Those who balanced both cultures—maintaining Islamic traditions while also participating in Canadian customs like hockey and socializing with everyone.
- Separated Muslims: Those who kept only their religious culture—praying at the mosque, wearing religious clothes, fasting during Ramadan, having only Muslim friends, and avoiding Canadian entertainment.
- Marginalized Muslims: Those who rejected both cultures—not caring about religious or Canadian traditions, having no friends from either group.
A fifth group received a neutral description with no mention of Muslims or culture (the control group).
After reading their assigned description, participants answered questions about their willingness to include Muslims in everyday situations—as neighbors, coworkers, tenants, politicians, and friends.
The Big Finding: Assimilation Works
The results were clear.
When Muslims were described as assimilated—fully embracing Canadian culture—non-Muslim Canadians showed significantly lower levels of social exclusion compared to the control group.
In plain English: they wanted to include them.
The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006). Muslims who drank beer (mentioned as part of “Canadian culture” in the vignette), watched hockey, and celebrated Christmas were welcomed with open arms.
But here is where it gets interesting.
The Surprise: Integration Did Not Help
You might expect that “integration”—keeping your own culture while also adopting the mainstream—would be the winning strategy. After all, Canada prides itself on multiculturalism.
But the study found something different.
When Muslims were described as integrated (balancing both cultures), the reduction in social exclusion was not statistically significant compared to the control group (p = 0.08). The numbers moved in the right direction, but not enough to be confident it wasn’t just chance.
Similarly, when Muslims were described as separated (keeping only Islamic culture) or marginalized (rejecting both), there was no significant increase in social exclusion compared to the control group.
However, when the researchers compared the conditions directly to each other, a clearer picture emerged:
- Separation vs. Assimilation: Muslims in the separation condition faced significantly more social exclusion than those in the assimilation condition (p = 0.027).
- Marginalization vs. Assimilation: Marginalized Muslims faced even more exclusion than assimilated Muslims (p = 0.001).
- Marginalization vs. Integration: Marginalized Muslims also faced more exclusion than integrated Muslims (p = 0.026).
In short: Assimilation was the clear winner. Muslims who fully adopted Canadian culture were the most welcomed.
Why Does This Happen? The Role of Religious Resentment
The researchers wanted to understand why this happens. They measured a factor called religious resentment—feelings of anger and dislike toward Muslims specifically because of their religious affiliation.
Here is what they found: when Muslims were seen as assimilated, non-Muslim Canadians felt less religious resentment. And that lower resentment directly led to less social exclusion.
The statistical test confirmed this was a genuine “mediation” effect (indirect effect: B = -0.51, 95% CI [–0.96, –0.08]). In simple terms:
Assimilation → Less Resentment → More Inclusion
This pathway only worked for assimilation. Integration, separation, and marginalization did not show this same effect.
What This Means for Canadian Multiculturalism
Canada is officially a multicultural country. Since 1988, the Multiculturalism Act has celebrated diversity and encouraged minorities to maintain their heritage while participating in society.
But this study suggests a gap between official policy and everyday attitudes.
“The main conclusion that emerged from this study,” the authors write, “is that majority group members showed a preference for Muslims when they were perceived to adopt an assimilationist acculturation strategy.”
In other words, while the government says “keep your culture,” many ordinary Canadians seem to prefer when minorities “become like us.”
The Good News: Exclusion Is Not the Default
Before you feel discouraged, consider this: the study also found that average levels of social exclusion were low across all conditions.
On a scale of 1 to 7 (where 7 means high exclusion), the average score was only 2.28. Similarly, religious resentment averaged only 2.81.
This means that non-Muslim Canadians, on the whole, are not highly exclusionary or resentful. The differences between conditions were about relative preferences, not widespread hostility.
“The results do not imply that Canadian society promotes the social exclusion of Muslim minorities,” the researchers clarify.
Two Tables That Tell the Story
How Different Acculturation Strategies Affected Social Exclusion
| Perceived Strategy of Muslims | Level of Social Exclusion (1-7 scale) | Compared to Control Group |
|---|---|---|
| Assimilation (Adopts Canadian culture only) | Lowest | Significantly lower (p = 0.006) |
| Integration (Balances both cultures) | Low | Not significant (p = 0.08) |
| Separation (Keeps only religious culture) | Moderate | Not significant (p = 0.57) |
| Marginalization (Rejects both cultures) | Moderate | Not significant (p = 0.61) |
Lower scores mean MORE inclusion (less exclusion).
The Power of Assimilation – Direct Comparisons
| Comparison | Outcome | Encouraging Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Separation vs. Assimilation | Separation led to MORE exclusion | Muslims who adopt Canadian culture are clearly preferred |
| Marginalization vs. Assimilation | Marginalization led to MORE exclusion | Rejecting both cultures is the hardest path |
| Marginalization vs. Integration | Marginalization led to MORE exclusion | Integration is better than rejection |
| Overall average exclusion | 2.28 out of 7 | Canadians are generally inclusive, not hostile |
Why Do Canadians Prefer Assimilation?
The researchers offer several explanations based on established psychology theories:
- Similarity Attracts: People naturally like others who are similar to them. When Muslims adopt Canadian customs—hockey, Christmas, even beer—they become “culturally similar” and feel like part of the “in-group.”
- Reduced Threat: Assimilation signals that Muslims are not threatening to national security or Canadian values. When religious practices are replaced with mainstream habits, the “fear factor” drops.
- In-Group Categorization: When Muslims act like “typical Canadians,” majority members may mentally recategorize them as part of “us” rather than “them.” This triggers positive feelings automatically.
The authors note that the assimilation vignette specifically mentioned “drinking beer” as a Canadian habit. Since Islam prohibits alcohol, this sent a powerful signal that these Muslims were rejecting a core Islamic practice in favor of Canadian social norms.
Limitations: What the Study Could Not Do
The researchers acknowledge several limitations:
- Pandemic Timing: The study was conducted during COVID-19 when borders were closed and anti-immigration sentiment was higher than usual. Results might differ in normal times.
- Online Sample: Participants came from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, which may not represent all Canadians—especially older generations or those without internet access.
- Vignette Complexity: The descriptions were text-based and possibly confusing. Simpler wording might yield different results.
- No Manipulation Check: The study did not directly verify that participants understood the differences between acculturation strategies.
Practical Implications: What Can Be Done?
The study offers several actionable recommendations:
For Muslim community leaders and religious figures:
- Promote Muslims’ religious and mainstream cultural association as an integral part of Canadian Muslim identity.
- Create platforms for interfaith and intercultural dialogue to reduce resentment.
For policymakers and law enforcement:
- Develop social contexts that promote positive intergroup interactions.
- Help Canadians learn accurate, positive information about Islam and Muslims.
For educators and media:
- Highlight shared values between Islamic and Canadian traditions.
- Counter the narrative that Islamic values and Canadian values are incompatible.
A Path Forward
The study ends with a hopeful call to action:
“Muslim religious leaders, social scientists, and subject persons [should] encourage a widespread acceptance of Muslim religious practices and shared values with the majority society… so that Canada circumvents the European trend, where the idea of inclusivity of various cultural identities is being replaced by a single cultural identity.”
In other words: Canada has a choice. It can follow Europe toward demanding assimilation, or it can build a genuine multiculturalism where integration is truly valued.
The Bottom Line
This study of 190 non-Muslim Canadians reveals something important: cultural similarity matters. When Muslims are perceived as fully adopting Canadian culture, social exclusion drops and religious resentment fades.
But the study also shows that Canadians are generally not hostile. Average exclusion scores were low. The differences were about preferences, not prejudice.
The challenge for Canada—and for all multicultural societies—is whether “integration” can someday become as welcomed as “assimilation.” That work starts with conversation, education, and building bridges.
The science is clear: similarity breeds inclusion. Now the question is: how do we expand what we consider “similar”?
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