Psychological Approaches to Interracial Contact and Identity Ashby Plant Jennifer LaCosse Danielle R. Krusemark
My Goals within Diversity Science Promoting positive relationships in a diverse culture (Part 1) – Acknowledge the diversity of goals and perspectives Exploring identity in an increasingly diverse society (Part 2) – Considering the complexities of biracial and bi- ethnic identity
Controversy in the Literature Self-reported attitudes indicated White people’s prejudice toward Black people had declined However, more subtle assessments indicated that most Whites were racially biased Strong nonprejudiced social (external) norms led some to doubt the sincerity of self- reports – Maybe people were motivated to hide their true prejudiced beliefs
Motivation to Respond without Prejudice The existence of external pressure does not mean internal motivation does not exist Why might people be motivated to respond without prejudice? – External – Internal
Internal and External Motivation to Respond Without Prejudice Scales Example Items – Internal (IMS) item “I am personally motivated by my beliefs to be nonprejudiced toward Black people.” – External (EMS) item “I attempt to appear nonprejudiced toward Black people in order to avoid disapproval from others.” These motivations are independent and relate to the expression of prejudice
How do People Regulate Prejudice? What can motivation tell us about how people treat outgroup members? What goals might people pursue in interracial interactions? – Approach a good interaction – be friendly! – Avoid a bad interaction - don’t be biased!
Motivation and Interactions Hypotheses Internal motivation (IMS) will result in approaching a good interaction External motivation (EMS) will result in avoiding a bad (prejudiced) impression
Motivation and Interactions (Plant et al., 2010) White participants of varying IMS/EMS engaged in a “getting to know you” interaction with Black confederate Were told to spend as much time as they felt was necessary to get to know their partner Interactions were timed and videotaped Participants were asked about their strategies during the interaction.
Implications of Motivation Internally motivated – Had longer interactions – Used more approach strategies – Had a better interactions (according to self, partner, and coder) Externally motivated – Reported using more avoidance strategies – Partners rated them as more biased
Interracial Interaction Concerns Black people tend to be concerned about being respected (e.g., Bergsieker et al., 2010) White people tend to be concerned about being liked/seen as nonprejudiced Do these divergent goals lead Black and White people to have to an “incompatible” approach to interracial interactions?
Interracial Interaction Concerns If high IMS people are focused on approaching a good interaction – they should focus on their partner – Be respectful to their partner High EMS people more likely to focus on themselves – Focus on avoiding prejudice
Showing Respect What makes Black people feel respected during interactions with White people? 99 Black undergraduates (72% female) – What do White people do that makes you feel respected (or disrespected)? – Three themes: Reject prejudice, treat me as competent, & make an effort to get to know me (82% mentioned one or more)
Showing Respect? Are White people aware that Black people want to be shown respect? Are they concerned about showing this respect? Do they intend on focusing on and engaging a Black interaction partner as a way to be respectful?
Part 1 112 White undergraduates (95 female) How do you think a Black interaction partner would want to be treated? – Knowledge that partner wants respect (5 items; α = . 88) “My interaction partner would want to be shown respect.” – IMS (α = .87) & EMS ( α = .84)
Part 2: Imagine an interaction… Concerns about showing respect (α = .86) – “I would want the person to feel that I respect him/her.” Concerns about appearing prejudiced (α = .93) – “I would try to demonstrate …that I am not racially prejudiced.” Partner focused intentions (α = .87) – “I would try to learn a lot about the person.” Self-focused intentions ( r = .60) – “I would focus a lot on my own behaviors and actions.”
Results IMS EMS Outcome Variable B p B p Knowledge Partner Wants .16 .001 .04 .363 Respect Concerns About Showing .26 < .001 .05 .213 Respect Partner Focused .35 < .001 -.05 .285 Engagement Intentions Concerns About Appearing .10 .157 .34 <.001 Prejudiced Self-focused Intentions .12 .123 .22 .002
Results IMS EMS Outcome Variable B p B p Knowledge Partner Wants .16 .001 .04 .363 Respect Concerns About Showing .26 < .001 .05 .213 Respect Partner Focused .35 < .001 -.05 .285 Engagement Intentions Concerns About Appearing .10 .157 .34 <.001 Prejudiced Self-focused Intentions .12 .123 .22 .002
Mediation Results * p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001 Concerns About B = .43*** Knowledge Partner Showing Respect Wants Respect B = . 49*** B = -.02 (.49***) B = .17*** B = .63*** B = .09 (.28***) B = .28*** Partner Focused IMS B = .17**(.34***) Intentions B = . 34*** Total indirect effect = .17, SE = .04, 95% CI [.10, .25]
Mediation Results * p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001 Concerns About Appearing B = .66* ** Prejudiced B = .35*** Self-Focused EMS Intentions B = .25*** B = .02 (.25***) indirect effect = .23, SE = .05, 95% CI [.14, .34]
How does this play out in interactions? Will high IMS people focus on what their interaction partner says? Will high IMS people engage their interaction partner?
Method 56 (41 female) White undergraduates Part 1: IMS (5 items; α = .87) EMS (5 items; α = .84) Part 2: Interracial Interaction – Watched partner’s “Getting to Know you Video” – Made “Getting to Know you Video” Video coded for respectful behaviors (e.g., greeting partner, mentioning similar goals)
Method Part 2: Interracial Interaction – Memory test for partner’s video – Self-focused intentions (α = . 72) – Partner focused intentions (α = .77)
Results IMS EMS Outcome Variable B p B p Self-focused Intentions .20 .031 .18 .015 Partner focused .21 .014 .09 .175 Engagement Intentions Memory for Partner’s .65 .020 -.13 .520 Responses Respectful Behaviors in Getting to Know you .39 < .001 .03 .663 Video
Discussion & Conclusion Internally motivated White people are aware that Black people desire respect, and they focus on being respectful Externally motivated White people are concerned about avoiding prejudice and focus on themselves Fostering IMS may be the key to cultivating positive interracial interactions
Implications Increasing White people’s knowledge that Black people want to be respected could encourage respectful behavior We may be able to encourage high EMS people to focus on respectful responding – they should be eager to learn
What determines Black-White biracial people’s racial identity?
Black- White Biracial People’s Racial Identity It is important to consider identification with Black people and White people independently Do people primarily identify with one race, both races, or does it vary by situation? What is the role of how are you perceived by others?
Methods 130 Black-White biracial people (42% female) completed the procedure on MTurk Completed a series of measures assessing – Racial identity (bi-dimensional & categorical) – How others perceive them – Multiracial pride (α = . 80) I am proud of being a multiracial person.
Inclusion of the Group in the Self Scale (1 to 7) Self Blacks Self Blacks Self Blacks Self Blacks Self Blacks Self Blacks Reported for both Black people Self Blacks and White people, r = .42
Self-Perception Self-perceived Identity categorized into 4 groups 1. I consider myself exclusively Black or I experience the world as a Black person. (n = 36) 2. I consider myself biracial. (n = 50 with #3) 3. I my racial identity depends on the circumstances. 4. I consider myself exclusively White or I experience the world as a White person. (n = 30)
Self-Group Overlap Identify Black Degree of self-group overlap 7 High Identify White 6 5 4 3 2 1 Low Black Biracial or White Changing “I identify as”
Others’ Perception People almost always think I’m Black . (n = 15) People almost always think I’m mixed/biracial . (n = 72) People almost always aren’t sure what my racial background is. (n = 32) People almost always think I’m White . (n = 11)
Self-Group Overlap Degree of self-group overlap Identify Black High 7 Identify White 6 5 4 3 2 1 Low Black Biracial Unsure White “People perceive me as…”
Results Conducted regression on multiracial pride with identification as White, Black, and their interaction Overlap with Black people: B = .31, p = .001 Overlap with White people: B = .24, p = .009
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