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Title: Race-Status Associations: Distinct Effects of Three Novel Measures Among White and Black Perceivers
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2021
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Abstract: Race is fraught with meaning, but unequal status is central. Race-status associations (RSAs) link White Americans with high status and Black Americans with low status. RSAs could occur via observation of racially distributed jobs, perceived status-related stereotypic attributes, or simple ranking. Nine samples (N = 3,933) validate three novel measures of White=high status/Black=low status RSAs—based on jobs, rank, and attributes. First, RSA measures showed clear factor structure, internal validity, and test-retest reliability. Second, these measures differentially corresponded to White Americans’ hierarchy-maintaining attitudes, beliefs, and preferences. Potentially based on observation, the more spontaneous Job-based RSAs predicted interracial bias, social dominance orientation, meritocracy beliefs, and hierarchy-maintaining hiring or policy preferences. Preference effects held after controlling for bias and support for the status quo. In contrast, the more deliberate Rank- and Attribute-based RSAs negatively predicted hierarchy-maintaining beliefs and policy preferences; direct inferences of racial inequality linked to preferences for undoing it. Third, Black=low status, rather than White=high status, associations largely drove these effects. Finally, Black Americans also held RSAs; Rank- or Attribute-based RSAs predicted increased perceived discrimination, reduced social dominance, and reduced meritocracy beliefs. Although individuals’ RSAs vary, only White Americans’ Jobbased stratifying associations help maintain racial status hierarchies. Theory-guided evidence of race-status associations introduces powerful new assessment tools.
Url: https://psycnet-apa-org.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/fulltext/2020-66288-001.html
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Authors: Dupree, Cyndney H.; Torrez, Brittany; Obioha, Obianuju; Fiske, Susan T.
Periodical (Full): Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition
Issue: 3
Volume: 120
Pages: 601-625
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Population Data Science, Race and Ethnicity
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