Exploring Blacks' Perceptions of Whites' Racial Prejudice as a Function of Intergroup Behavior and Motivational Mindsets. Issue 5 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simon, Stefanie; Shaffer, Emily; Neel, Rebecca; Shapiro, Jenessa
• Is Part Of: Social psychological & personality science. Volume 10:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 575
• Page End: 585
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: intergroup behavior -- intergroup interactions -- motivational mindsets -- malleability beliefs -- racial prejudice; Personality -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 155.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1948550618778584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1948-5506

Abstract

When Whites believe prejudice cannot change, they often adopt a behavioral style that is intended to reduce the possibility that they are seen as racist (i.e., performance-oriented behaviors). The present research tests the possibility that these performance-oriented behaviors may be interpreted, ironically, as racist. Across two studies, Black participants viewed performance-oriented behaviors as indicating racial prejudice. Additionally, when Black participants were led to believe that Whites' racial prejudice could not change, they perceived Whites as more prejudiced. This research highlights a potential source of misunderstanding in interracial interactions and offers implications for improving interracial interactions from target and perpetrator perspectives.