Race versus belief about race as determinants of attraction: Belief prejudice and two kinds of race prejudice
Clyde Hendrick; Donna K Rumenik
Journal of Research in Personality 7(2): 148-164
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0092-6566 DOI: 10.1016/0092-6566(73)90048-2Document Number: 358233
An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of actual racial membership versus similarity of beliefs about racial issues on interpersonal evaluations. Prejudiced and unprejudiced White male students observed a videotaped interaction of two Black and two White male actors discussing racial issues and then evaluated the actors on several scales. One White and one Black actor took a conservative stand on racial issues, and the other White and Black pair of actors took a liberal position. Results from the ratings showed strong belief prejudice effects. Prejudiced subjects were attracted to conservative actors while unprejudiced subjects were attracted to liberal actors. Additionally, there were two kinds of race effects. Prejudiced subjects preferred White to Black actors, but unprejudiced subjects showed a reverse bias, preferring Black to White actors. A tentative explanation for this unusual finding was proposed.