Perceptions of same-race and interracial dating couples on sexuality and relationship variables
Attitudes towards interracial dating and marriage have historically been used as barometers of racial acceptance in this country. As such, the interracial relationships literature focuses on attitudes towards different racial and ethnic groups as potential romantic partners, and on reactions from individuals in interracial couples regarding their relationship. However, the interracial relationships literature rarely examines the specific perceptions that interracial couples elicit. The research that does examine perceptions of same-race and interracial couples suggests that participants may form different perceptions for same-race and interracial couples. Interestingly, some of this research also suggests that participants may rate Black and Hispanic targets significantly different from each other on education, social economic status, and personality variables. Unfortunately, the interracial relationships literature does not address in detail how race may alter perceived sexuality. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine whether individuals altered their perceptions of a couple and the individuals in the couple based on the couple’s racial composition. In addition, the current study attempted to replicate results where participants rated Black and Hispanic targets significantly different on socioeconomic, personality, and education variables. Finally, the current study examined whether variations in the racial composition of the couple would elicit different ratings of the targets’ sexuality and other relationship variables. Participants included 270 students enrolled at Texas Tech University. These participants were recruited from the Department of Psychology Human Participant Pool and from classes in upper division psychology courses. Participants viewed pictures, read a vignette about either a same-race or an interracial couple, and then rated the individuals in the couple and the couples as a whole on several measures. These measures included a Demographics Questionnaire, a Couples Perception Questionnaire, and an adapted version of the Sociosexuality Orientation Inventory. Participants were also asked to answer supplemental questionnaires including a relationships questionnaire and two motivations questionnaires. The results from the current study suggest that participants do not perceive Black and Hispanic targets as significantly different on socioeconomic status, personality, or education variables. However, the results also suggest that participants appear to perceive same-race and interracial couples differently on certain variables. Interestingly, participants were more able, or willing, to differentiate between the same-race and interracial couples on very general questions but not detail-oriented questions.
Impressions, Perceptions, Couples, romantic, Same-race
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