Who Is and Should Be American? How Religion, Race, and Demographic Shifts Shape Perceptions of American Identity
Racial and religious exclusion are hallmarks of White Christian Nationalist ideology, which has gained prominence in recent years and become an increasing threat to American democracy. However, demographic shifts have made White Christians a “majority-minority” and may incentivize White Christians to redraw their social boundaries. Psychologists Michael Pasek and Clara Wilkins and political scientist Alexandra Filindra will explore how White Christians use race and religion to evaluate who they perceive to be “true Americans” and which non-White Christians groups they believe are potential social and political allies, with a focus on Latinx immigrants. They will conduct survey experiments for their study.