Essentializing Race: Its Implication to Social Categorization and Racial Perception

Essentialist theories of race are the beliefs that racial groups possess distinctive essence that is unchangeable and is indicative of abilities and traits. Previous research that examined essentialism and intergroup perceptions yielded mixed findings. Whereas some studies showed that believing in fixed and immutable group characteristics were associated with negative intergroup perceptions, these associations were not consistently found in other studies. The purpose of the current paper is to resolve this apparent inconsistency in the literature. Taking a cognitive approach, this paper began by examining the association between basic categorization processes and the two different components of essentialized group perceptions---immutability and inductive potential. It then investigated how the two essentialism factors interplayed with the social contexts to shape intergroup perceptions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Chao, Manchi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hong, Ying-Yi

• Psychology, Social
• Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies

Identifier

(UMI)AAI3362745

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72101