Agents of Socialization: Effects on the Attitudes and Beliefs of African Americans on Interracial Marriages

Using the 2 000 General Social Survey I analyzed appropriate variables to assess the effects of agents of socialization in relation to the attitudes and beliefs of African Americans toward interracial marriages. Socialization theory was examined and used as a framework to guide this current study. Regression analyses indicated that neighborhood composition is the best predictor of facilitating positive attitudes for African Americans toward interracial marriages. In line with past research, African Americans, despite ongoing discrimination and prejudiced attitudes, still prefer to reside in neighborhoods that are mixed 50-50 (Farley, Schuman, Bianchi, Colasanto, and Hatchett 1978). Contrary to expectations, education, schools, peers, class, and religion failed to be significant. Moreover, 96 percent of African Americans opposed laws banning racial intermarriage.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Sociology

Year

2002

Author dc:creator

• Justice, Jashard

• Sociology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/603

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-1606