The causes and consequences of an avoidance-focus for interracial interactions

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
E Ashby Plant, David A Butz

Abstract

The current work examined the causes and consequences of non-Black people's desire to avoid interracial interactions (an avoidance-focus). Expecting to respond with racial bias in inter-racial interactions was argued to result in an avoidance-focus for such interactions, which was hypothesized to have negative implications for the quality of interracial interactions. Across three studies, feedback indicating that non-Black participants would respond with racial bias in interactions with Black people resulted in anxiety and the desire to avoid the interaction. In addition, when participants with an avoidance-focus interacted with a Black confederate (Study 2), they had shorter interactions that were rated as less pleasant by the confederate and participant as compared to those without an avoidance-focus. Avoidance-focused participants were less interested in future interactions and came across as more avoidant and biased to their partner than less avoidance-focused participants. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for racial relations.

References

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Jan 29, 2002·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·John F DovidioSamuel L Gaertner
May 14, 2003·Psychological Science·Jennifer A Richeson, J Nicole Shelton
Jun 11, 2004·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·E Ashby Plant, Patricia G Devine
Sep 28, 2004·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·E Ashby Plant
Jan 6, 2005·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J Nicole Shelton, Jennifer A Richeson
May 5, 2005·Psychological Science·J Nicole SheltonSophie Trawalter

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Citations

Apr 1, 2011·Du Bois Review : Social Science Research on Race·Michelle van RynSylvia Perry
Mar 27, 2015·The Journal of Social Psychology·Kevin L ZabelJoy E Phillips
Aug 19, 2009·Journal of Personality·David A Butz, E Ashby Plant
May 20, 2011·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Beth Kurtz-CostesC Ryan Kinlaw
Dec 24, 2013·Child Development·Kristina M ZosulsDawn E England
Sep 24, 2015·The Journal of Social Psychology·Jay W JacksonJennifer Dumford
Jul 18, 2015·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Eric D KnowlesMiguel M Unzueta
Jun 10, 2011·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Laura G Babbitt, Samuel R Sommers
Sep 26, 2009·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Sophie TrawalterJ Nicole Shelton
Aug 17, 2019·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Monnica T Williams
Mar 15, 2018·Frontiers in Public Health·Stacie Craft DeFreitasAnna Ajayi

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