Chirco, Patrizia (2023). White Americans’ reactions to a racially diversifying nation and social psychological interventions to address them. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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Abstract
The projected racial shift in the United States, where ethnic and racial minorities are expected to outnumber the White population in 2044, has led to various reactions among White Americans. The research in this dissertation examines some of the behavioral responses of White people to the expected racial demographic change. These responses include more support for conservative parties, increased beliefs that they are victims of anti-White discrimination, opposition to the construction of cultural and religious buildings, and increased embracement of supposedly more traditional American values such as increased support for Christian morals, patriarchal family structure, American exceptionalism, etc. In more extreme cases, the expected racial demographic shift has fueled violence against people of color including murder. In truth, despite the increased racial and ethnic diversity of the country, White individuals maintain privileged status in the socioeconomic hierarchy. Economic inequality, institutional segregation, outgroup prejudice, explicit discrimination in the workplace, and threat responses to the changing American demographic contribute to the underrepresentation of people of color in leadership positions from business to politics. Colorism, which involves prejudice and discrimination based on skin tone, further exacerbates disparities complicating the experiences of individuals of color. For example, the results of the first manuscript included in this dissertation show that, while White Americans favor lighterskinned politicians, they do so only when those individuals are African American. As shown in the second manuscript, the psychological mechanism explaining such a preference was linked to the fact that an African American politician is seen as more American than a Mexican American individual with the same skin tone. In other words, when seen in the same skin tone, the African American politician was perceived as more American than the Mexican American. That perception of Americanness led White voters to express more positive attitudes and increased voting intentions toward the African American candidate. Whether White voters’ attitudes and behaviors are a matter of colorism or racial and ethnic bias, it is essential, as a matter of more equitable representations, to investigate ways to increase the number of people of color in organizations as well as public office. Given the recent political pushback on organizational and institutional efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, the aim of the studies presented in the third manuscript was to investigate self-affirmation interventions meant to mitigate the adverse reaction of White individuals to such initiatives. Overall, the results showed that affirmed White individuals held more positive attitudes toward diversity policies and lower levels of symbolic and realistic threats than non-affirmed White people did. Additionally, the results discussed in the third manuscript show that affirmed individuals expressed a greater inclination to be involved in DEI activities (e.g., voluntarily participate in DEI training). These intentions predicted their behavior of signing up for a DEI newsletter. All in all, the studies included in this dissertation highlight the importance of understanding White individuals' reactions to a diversifying nation, as they impact voting behaviors, attitudes towards DEI initiatives, and the representation of people of color in politics and other leadership roles. Self-affirmation interventions offer a potential tool to address threat responses and promote more positive attitudes towards diversity and inclusion efforts.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
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| Dissertation Type: | Cumulative |
| Date of Defense: | 11 October 2023 |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology |
| Institute / Center: | 07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Sarah Stalder |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Oct 2025 14:13 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Oct 2025 22:25 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6801 |
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