Sugar-coated Racism: When fondness for out-group stereotypicality masks discrimination
Open Access
- Author:
- Spielvogel, Bryn L
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Theresa K Vescio, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Jeffrey M Love, Thesis Honors Advisor
Dr. Jeffrey M Love, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- racism
aggression
masking
outperformance
masculinity
status-quo - Abstract:
- This research considers the possibility that discriminatory acts of White Americans against Black Americans are masked by the simultaneous occurrence of out-group appreciation. The primary objective was to investigate the notion that dominant-group members respond to a status threat from a stereotypically lower-status individual by at once aggressing against the individual while expressing an appreciation for that which the individual represents (e.g. that person’s culture). To test this idea, White male undergraduates participated in a study in which they were outperformed on an intelligence test by a White or Black experimental partner. Participants were then given the opportunity to a) aggress against their partner and b) express liking of aspects of Black or White culture (e.g. rap music, country music). Participants were expected to aggress against a superior-performing Black (versus White) partner through the administration of a high quantity of hot sauce in a supposedly unrelated taste test. Those who aggressed were expected to express greater fondness for stereotypically Black genres of music. Correlational analysis were completed, and regression equations were estimated to test the effects of and interactions between variables. We also tested the degree that these tendencies varied as a function of participant’s level of social dominance orientation, gender role stress, implicit racism, and implicit adherence to masculinity norms. Predicted patterns emerged, but in non-predicted conditions. While implicit masculinity did predict aggression only in the Black threat condition, Black partners were aggressed against less than White partners when a threat was present. Those low in Social Dominance Orientation consistently expressed positivity toward Blacks and Black culture. However, aggression did not predict selection of Black or masculine music in any condition. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.