Integrated Threat Theory

Integrated threat theory (ITT) serves as a broad paradigm for understanding intergroup prejudice and perceived threats, which is valuable to explain interactions between tourists, the host community, and related stakeholders. Originating in social psychology, ITT identifies four dimensions of perceived threats, which are realistic threats (physical or economic harm), symbolic threats (cultural or value conflicts), intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes. Such dimensions define intergroup dynamics and affect tourism behaviors. This chapter discusses the theoretical underpinnings of ITT and its relevance in tourism, including exploring host–guest relationships and addressing intergroup tensions and community-level issues. This chapter examines how ITT might offer strategies benefiting intergroup relations, and how perceived threats may impact attitudes toward tourists, also suggesting future research directions to strengthen the theory’s applicability in diverse tourism contexts by analyzing key dimensions of perceived threats.