Date Presented

Spring 5-1-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Virginia Cylke

Second Advisor

Pepper Hanna

Third Advisor

Nancy Cowden

Abstract

This thesis explored the effects of exposure to different political affiliations and races on participants’ perceptions of white privilege and anti-black discrimination. Current research has studied the effects of race, framing, and guilt on the acknowledgement of white privilege, but none have explored how political affiliation can affect these perceptions. If simple exposure to these symbols of political affiliation can alter the perceptions of those exposed, perhaps the results of this study could be used to bring about awareness and ease political tensions. Participants were placed in one of six groups consisting of either a white or black experimenter wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt, Make America Great Again shirt, or a plain black shirt. Participants completed a series of three surveys: a demographic survey, a belief in White Privilege Scale, and the Other Focused Belief in Discrimination Scale. A two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. There were no significant differences in scores on the White Privilege Scale based on race or shirt of the experimenter.

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