Perception of Subtle Racism: The Role of Group Status, Legitimized Ideology, Race-Based Rejection Sensitivity, Implicit Theories of Race, and Accountability

The current study examined subtle and ambiguous types of racism from the target's perspectives. The role of relative group status, legitimized ideology, race-based rejection sensitivity and implicit theories of race were examined that account for the perceptual differences on subtle racism. The process of accountability---self-critical and effortful thinking---was also examined on its role on attenuating and modifying the perceptual differences. Ninety-one Black American (low-status group) and 140 White American (high-status group) participants filled out the questionnaire that consisted of measures of legitimized ideology, race-based rejection sensitivity, and implicit theories of race. They were invited to the lab experiment about two weeks later, and 55 Black Americans and 77 White Americans were randomly assigned to the accountability and non-accountability conditions. The participants watched a video clip on an ambiguous and subtle interracial scenario, recalled and rewrote the scenario, and evaluated if the situation was racist. In the accountability condition, the participants were given extra instructions to discuss their evaluation and impression about the scenario with other participants. The current findings showed that perceivers from high-status group, and/or with higher endorsement of legitimized ideology, lower endorsement of race-based rejection sensitivity, and/or fixed views of race are less likely to perceive subtle racism. On the other hand, perceivers from low-status group, and/or with lower endorsement of legitimized ideology, higher endorsement of race-based rejection sensitivity, and/or fixed views of race are more likely to perceive subtle racism. Accountability, however, did not attenuate and moderate these perceptual differences. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Liao, Hsin-Ya

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hong, Ying-Yi
• Rounds, James

• Black Studies

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3242921

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/79945