Racial discrimination remains pervasive in American society. Some social science theories have suggested two broad characteristics of racism: exploitation and exclusion. Social psychologist Linda Zou will examine whether exposure to examples of racial exploitation and exclusion reinforces stereotypes against minority groups and undermines support for policies that would address racial inequalities. She will conduct survey experiments for her study.
Rural populations face escalating and compounding threats from climate change as communities see an increase in wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, and other climate-induced natural hazards. These communities already grapple with unique social, economic, and political challenges characteristic of rural places and are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate hazards. Decision science scholar Gabrielle Wong-Parodi will examine the impact of climate hazards on rural households’ wellbeing in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region of California.
The dominant narrative of race relations and racial history in the U.S. highlights the steady progress of Black Americans, while minimizing or overlooking persistent racial injustices. Belief in this progressive narrative has been associated with lower support for social change. The Black Lives Matter movement and racial justice organizations have advocated for a different narrative of racial struggle for civil rights, which deviates from the dominate narrative and highlights resistance and resilience in the face of ongoing oppression.
This grant is funded in part by the Spencer Foundation.
One potential reason for opposition to race-conscious policies is differing ideas of what diversity entails. While conservatives often define diversity as viewpoint-based (e.g., political attitudes), liberals typically emphasize demographic diversity (e.g. race). Psychologist Teri Kirby and political scientist Mary Scudder will examine whether different conceptions of diversity are related to differences in support for race-conscious policies. They will conduct archival analysis and survey experiments for their study.
Persuasion is notoriously difficult. Decades of research has shown that exclusionary attitudes—prejudice against out groups and opposition to policies that would promote their wellbeing—are difficult to change. Many scholars have argued that building rapport can overcome resistance to changing beliefs. However, recent experimental evidence has cast doubt on that claim.
Why do some threats foster coalition-building while others deepen division? Psychologist Crystal Shackleford will examine how ingroup versus systemic sociopolitical threats shape coalitional attitudes, policy support, and cooperation. She will examine psychological conditions—perceived similarity or status differences—theorized to drive solidarity outcomes.
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of race in college and university admissions was unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. The decision, which applied to public and private institutions alike, signaled a major change in education equity policies, overturning over 40 years of precedent. Students of color must now weigh the personal importance of disclosing their racial identity against the potential risks of being penalized. And high school counselors must now advise students within an ambiguous legal context.
In recent years, workplaces have become more informal in both dress and communication style. On the surface, it seems that informality at work makes the workplace more inclusive. However, psychologist Stav Atir and organizational behavior scholar Hannah Birnbaum show that minoritized professionals rely more on formal cues (e.g., professional titles) to establish legitimacy, and that the loss of formality therefore operates as an unrecognized form of professional privilege.
The 2024 presidential election marked a historic moment as Kamala Harris became the first Black woman nominated by a major party for president. Her candidacy triggered widespread media coverage that frequently invoked racialized and gendered stereotypes, creating a context to examine how representations of Black women political leaders affect Black women voters.
Young Black people and other young people of color demonstrate strength in myriads ways but often face low expectations stemming from narrow narratives and negative stereotypes signaling that their racial/ethnic background misaligns with their aspirations. These harmful signals and their impact are rarely discussed, and while the means to counteract their effects could improve the odds of young people of color, such means are even more rarely examined.