GENERATIONS AND THE EXPRESSION OF SYMBOLIC RACISM

In: Political psychology: journal of the International Society of Political Psychology, Band 6, Heft 1, S. 1-18

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE GENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF RACIAL ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS. THE STUDY IS BASED ON IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH THE ADULT CHILDREN OF THE MEN FIRST INTERVIEWED BY ROBERT E. LANE FOR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY (1962). WHILE LITTLE EVIDENCE POINTED TO THE DIRECT IMPRINTING OF SPECIFIC RACIAL BELIEFS ON THE COGNITIVE LEVEL, THERE DID SEEM TO BE A TRANSFER OF UNDERLYING ATTITUDES ON THE AFFECTIVE LEVEL. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE FAMILIAL ATMOSPHERE PRODUCED A RESERVIOR OF RACISM BENEATH THE SURFACE OF OTHERWISE TOLERANT BELIEFS.