To be liked versus respected: Divergent goals in interracial interactions.
Pervasive representations of Blacks and Latinos as unintelligent and of Whites as racist may give rise to divergent impression management goals in interracial interactions. We present studies showing that in interracial interactions racial minorities seek to be respected and seen as competent more than Whites do, whereas Whites seek to be liked and seen as moral more than racial minorities do. These divergent impression management goals are reflected in Whites' and racial minorities' self-report responses (Studies 1a, 1b, 2, and 4) and behaviors (Studies 3a and 3b). Divergent goals are observed in pre-existing relationships (Study 2), as well as in live interactions (Studies 3a, 3b, and 4), and are associated with higher levels of negative other-directed affect (Study 4). Implications of these goals for interracial communication and misunderstandings are discussed.
Bergsieker
Hilary B
HB
Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. hburbank@princeton.edu
Shelton
J Nicole
JN
Richeson
Jennifer A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D009014:Morals; D009633:Nonverbal Communication / Q000523:psychology; D011361:Professional Competence; D012919:Social Behavior; D012928:Social Desirability; D055815:Young Adult