Do Social Norms or Self-Interest Rule? Comparing the Power of Social Norms and Targets of Prejudice on Symbolic Prejudice in a Group Discussion

Author

William Thomas Cockrell

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Sinclair, H. Colleen

Committee Member

Adams-Price, Carolyn E.

Committee Member

McMillen, Robert

Date of Degree

12-14-2013

Original embargo terms

MSU Only Indefinitely

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

We examined how social norms and confrontations by targets of prejudice influence opinions of gay rights. During an experimental discussion participants were assigned to a 2 (Target: gay target present vs. Christian non-target present) x 2 (Social Support: no group support vs. support from 3 confederates) design. Dependent variables included participants’ public votes on gay rights policies, private post-discussion attitudes, and post-discussion reactions toward the discussion. Results showed that participants exposed to a group showed greater public endorsement of gay-rights than those interacting with the target alone. Gay targets facilitated greater public advocacy for gay rights than Christian targets, despite reporting more negative reactions post-discussion. Overall, participants became more pro-gay rights after the discussion, regardless of condition. These results support the role of social norms in reducing prejudice but also suggest that, contrary to the self-interest rule, targets of prejudice may garner greater support by standing up for their rights.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19002

Recommended Citation

Cockrell, William Thomas, "Do Social Norms or Self-Interest Rule? Comparing the Power of Social Norms and Targets of Prejudice on Symbolic Prejudice in a Group Discussion" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 1554.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1554