Abstract

The proposed experimental study seeks to explore under what conditions white participants might demonstrate less behavioral resistance to engaging in conversations about racism. In this study, approximately 128 white-identifying students at Scripps College will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a non-racist framing condition or an anti-racist framing condition. After completing the framing task, participants will be asked to imagine that they are going to meet with a group of Students of Color to discuss the issue of the lack of diversity on campus. Participants’ interview behaviors will be videotaped, and later coded for behavioral resistance. Lastly, participants will complete affect and self-esteem self-report measures. Participants in the non-racist framing group are expected to score lower on self-esteem, and higher on negative affect and resistant behavior than participants in the anti-racist framing group. Furthermore, the effect of framing on participants’ behavior is expected to be mediated by participants’ affect. Lastly, it is predicted that the effect of framing on participants’ affect will be mediated by participants’ self-esteem.