Research conducted by the author in South Africa confirms Pettigrew's findings that the acceptance by an individual of prejudicial attitudes is not a function of an underlying personality dimension, but merely the result of socially adaptive mechanisms. (Author)

The Conservatism Scale, a recently developed reliable and valid measure of social attitudes, was completed by Dutch, English, and New Zealand samples. In each analysis the first two components which emerged loaded on religious and racialist-punitive items respectively. (Author)

Within a racially discriminatory context, data were presented to support the proposition that a significant factor in determining agreement between overt and verbal behavior is the degree of correspondence between the situation depicted in the question, to which the subject verbally responds, and the situation in which the subject performs the…

The hypotheses that black children exposed to a problack community school would prefer more and identify more with dolls of their own race than children not exposed to such a program was supported in this study. (Author/KM)

Subjects rated blacks the same as other people (whites) but those willing to make trait attributions to blacks made them in a negative, unfavorable manner, pointing out that contact between groups is no guarantee of more favorable intergroup attitudes. (Author)

The results of this study indicate skin shade has social and psychological implications. Bias toward lighter skin shades among blacks was apparent. (JB)

Analyzes influence of rape myths on victims' decisions to report rapes. Examines respondents' perceptions of responsibility and evaluation of incidents. Explains respondents with strong beliefs in rape myths contribute to a tolerance of the rapist while blaming the victim. Implies attitudes reinforce unreported rapes and a lack of fair trials.…

Low correlations were found between authoritarianism and prejudice against non-whites. It is suggested that in South Africa, in comparison to America, prejudice serves a utilitarian rather than an ego-defense function, and is thus more amenable to change. (DB)

Defines symbolic racism theory and social dominance theory. Compares the two theories and how they affect racial policy attitudes such as busing, affirmative action, and welfare. Explains that the study reanalyses data previously collected. Discusses symbolic racism as a legitimizing myth. Reports that social dominance theory was more consistent…

Reports a study of 94 Zimbabwean students between the ages of 7 and 14 in a school enrolling an equal number of Black students and White students. Students were asked their social preferences for friendships, and results showed racial insularity was more marked among Whites than Blacks but failed to reveal significant ingroup friendship…

Reports on a study of social identity and intergroup comparisons among 75 African-American and Chinese-American undergraduates. Finds that both groups judged the ingroup more favorably and considered the outgroup to be more homogeneous. Calls this study a first step and recommends more research. (CFR)

Reports on a study of trust expectancies among 113 Native American and Caucasian intermediate grade students in same-race and mixed-race schools. Finds that both racial groups had more trust expectancy of their own race. Also finds that this trust expectancy pattern was somewhat less evident in mixed-race schools. (CFR)

Reports on a study of differences in assumptions about a just world among 140 college students. Finds that nonminority students saw their personal worlds as less random, more just, and more benevolent than they saw the general world. Finds that minority students saw both the personal and the general world as less benevolent and less lucky. (CFR)

Identifies relative deprivation as a subjective feeling of discontent based on a belief that one is getting less than one feels entitled to. Investigates the relationship between relative deprivation, ethnic identification, and racial attitudes in South Africa. Discusses the connections between these beliefs and recent sociopolitical changes. (MJP)

Interprets and contrasts data from two large student surveys investigating attitudes among interracial and monoracial high school and college students. Refutes earlier studies that suggested interracial students suffer from diminished self esteem and psychological well being. Discovers interesting anomalies between ethnic self-labeling and the…