Backlash following a confrontation: The impact of relationship, essentialism, and trust

Efrata Sasahulih, Jamie Patrianakos, Robyn Mallett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<p> <blockquote> </blockquote></p><p> Confronting bias can reduce prejudice (Czopp et al., 2006). But people hesitate to confront because they fear backlash (Swim &amp; Hyers, 1999). Previously, we found that being confronted by a friend for anti-Black racism lessened perpetrators&rsquo; feelings of essentialism and reduced backlash toward the confronter. We hypothesized that trust and essentialism mediate the association between the perpetrator&rsquo;s relationship with the confronter and backlash. 437 white participants experienced a 2(Relationship: Friend, Stranger) x2 (Confrontation: Racist, Rude) between-subjects design. When confronted for racism, trusting the confronter and feeling less essentialized by them decreased backlash for confronters who were friends (v. strangers).</p>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalUndergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium
StatePublished - 1800

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