The Effect of Personality and Ethnic Identity on Attributions of Racism Among African American Students
Racism has been a topic of psychological inquiry for many years. Few studies, though, have examined attributions of racism. Attribution research examines the causes people use to explain life events. The purpose of this study is to measure how personality traits and ethnic identity affect attributions of racism among African Americans. A sample of 60 African American students attending a summer residential program at a large Midwestern University will read 18 vignettes and then rate them on racism. The vignettes will vary on the type of racism and the race of the perpetrator and victim. The students will also complete measures of personality (Goldberg's International Personality Item Pool) and ethnic identity (Phinney's Multi-group Ethnic Identity Measure).
Three hypotheses will be tested. First, students with higher levels of ethnic identification are predicted to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism more often than less ethnically identified students. Further, it is predicted that highly extroverted students will be less willing to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism than less extroverted students. Lastly, it is hypothesized that those students who are more open to experience will be less likely to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism than those students who are less open to experience. This study highlights the importance of examining within-group differences, thereby breaking the stereotype that all African Americans perceive racism in the same way.
Three hypotheses will be tested. First, students with higher levels of ethnic identification are predicted to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism more often than less ethnically identified students. Further, it is predicted that highly extroverted students will be less willing to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism than less extroverted students. Lastly, it is hypothesized that those students who are more open to experience will be less likely to attribute the behavior of the perpetrator to racism than those students who are less open to experience. This study highlights the importance of examining within-group differences, thereby breaking the stereotype that all African Americans perceive racism in the same way.
School:
University of California at Irvine
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
James Rounds
Department of Research Advisor:
Educational Psychology
Year of Publication:
2002