Biological Conceptions of Race and the Motivation to Cross Racial Boundaries

Posted in Articles, Identity Development/Psychology, Media Archive, Social Science on 2012-01-03 02:33Z by Steven

Biological Conceptions of Race and the Motivation to Cross Racial Boundaries

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Volume 94, Number 6 (June 2008)
pages 1033–1047
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.94.6.1033

Melissa J. Williams, Assistant Professor in Organization & Management
Goizueta Business School
Emory University

Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Associate Professor of Psychology
Stanford University

The present studies demonstrate that conceiving of racial group membership as biologically determined increases acceptance of racial inequities (Studies 1 and 2) and cools interest in interacting with racial outgroup members (Studies 3–5). These effects were generally independent of racial prejudice. It is argued that when race is cast as a biological marker of individuals, people perceive racial outgroup members as unrelated to the self and therefore unworthy of attention and affiliation. Biological conceptions of race therefore provide justification for a racially inequitable status quo and for the continued social marginalization of historically disadvantaged groups.

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