Cited by 256Social and Intergroup PsychologyRacial and Ethnic Identity ResearchNames, Identity, and Discrimination Research

Legitimating Racial Discrimination: Emotions, Not Beliefs, Best Predict Discrimination in a Meta-Analysis

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Talaska, Cara A., Fiske, Susan T., Chaiken, Shelly·2008·Social Justice Research

Abstract

Investigations of racial bias have emphasized stereotypes and other beliefs as central explanatory mechanisms and as legitimating discrimination. In recent theory and research, emotional prejudices have emerged as another, more direct predictor of discrimination. A new comprehensive meta-analysis of 57 racial attitude-discrimination studies finds a moderate relationship between overall attitudes and discrimination. Emotional prejudices are twices as closely related to racial discrimination as stereotypes and beliefs are. Moreover, emotional prejudices are closely related to both observed and self-reported discrimination, whereas stereotypes and beliefs are related only to self-reported discrimination. Implications for justifying discrimination are discussed.

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  • A meta-analysis found that emotional prejudice was twice as strongly predictive of discriminatory behavior as racial beliefs and stereotypes.

    “A meta-analysis found that emotional prejudice was twice as strongly predictive of discriminatory behavior as racial beliefs and stereotypes [114].”

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Authors
Talaska, C. A., Fiske, S. T., & Chaiken, S.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • Princeton University (US)
Corresponding author
Fiske, Susan T.
Venue
Social Justice Research
Published
2008-09
Volume
21
Issue
3
Pages
263-296
ISSN
  • 0885-7466 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6725
OpenAlex
W1998361206
Cited by
256
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 15
FWCI
4.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Justice Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R24HD047879)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
Keywords
racial discrimination, racial attitudes, stereotypes, racial beliefs, self-reported discrimination, racial bias

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