The origins of symbolic racism.
The theory of symbolic racism places its origins in a blend of anti-Black affect and conservative values, particularly individualism. We clarify that hypothesis, test it directly, and report several findings consistent with it. Study 1 shows that racial prejudice and general political conservatism fall into 2 separate factors, with symbolic racism loading about equally on both. Study 2 found that the anti-Black affect and individualism significantly explain symbolic racism. The best-fitting model both fuses those 2 elements into a single construct (Black individualism) and includes them separately. The effects of Black individualism on racial policy preferences are mostly mediated by symbolic racism. Study 3 shows that Black individualism is distinctively racial, with effects distinctly different from either an analogous gender individualism or race-neutral individualism.
Sears
David O
DO
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1484, USA. sears@psych.ucla.edu
Henry
P J
PJ
D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011057:Politics; D011287:Prejudice; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012737:Sex Factors; D013561:Symbolism