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Placing Racial Stereotypes in Context: Social Desirability and the Politics of Racial Hostility

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  • Christopher R. Weber
  • Howard Lavine
  • Leonie Huddy
  • Christopher M. Federico

Abstract

Past research indicates that diversity at the level of larger geographic units (e.g., counties) is linked to white racial hostility. However, research has not addressed whether diverse local contexts may strengthen or weaken the relationship between racial stereotypes and policy attitudes. In a statewide opinion survey, we find that black‐white racial diversity at the zip‐code level strengthens the connection between racial stereotypes and race‐related policy attitudes among whites. Moreover, this effect is most pronounced among low self‐monitors, individuals who are relatively immune to the effects of egalitarian social norms likely to develop within a racially diverse local area. We find that this racializing effect is most evident for stereotypes (e.g., African Americans are “violent”) that are “relevant” to a given policy (e.g., capital punishment). Our findings lend nuance to research on the political effects of racial attitudes and confirm the racializing political effects of diverse residential settings on white Americans.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher R. Weber & Howard Lavine & Leonie Huddy & Christopher M. Federico, 2014. "Placing Racial Stereotypes in Context: Social Desirability and the Politics of Racial Hostility," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(1), pages 63-78, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:58:y:2014:i:1:p:63-78
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12051
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Plieger & Sarah Al-Haj Mustafa & Sebastian Schwandt & Jana Heer & Alina Weichert & Martin Reuter, 2023. "Evaluations of the Authenticity of News Media Articles and Variables of Xenophobia in a German Sample: Measuring Out-Group Stereotypes Indirectly," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Amalia Álvarez-Benjumea & Fabian Winter, 2020. "The Breakdown of Anti-Racist Norms: A Natural Experiment on Normative Uncertainty after Terrorist Attacks," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2020_05, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.

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