1. In time, we will simply disappear: Racial demographic shift undermines privileged group members' support for marginalized social groups via collective angst.
- Author
-
Stefaniak, Anna and Wohl, Michael J. A.
- Subjects
SOCIAL groups ,ANXIETY ,SOCIAL support ,RACE relations ,POWER (Social sciences) ,FEAR ,INTERGROUP communication - Abstract
The racial demographic shift occurring in many Western countries provides a unique context to study the reactions of a high-power group (White people) to the potential loss of their privileged position in society. Three experiments (N = 77, N = 302, N = 555) conducted in Canada, the US, and the UK showed that White people who are reminded about the ongoing demographic changes and who see race relations as a zero-sum game whereby any gains by minorities must come at the expense of the majority, experience stronger collective angst and, to a lesser extent, fear (but not anger). In turn, collective angst, but not the other negative group-based emotions, fuels their motivation to protect the existing intergroup hierarchy by withdrawing support for progressive social movements and increases anti-immigration sentiments. Downregulating the existential threat experienced by White majorities in the face of a racial demographic shift may be one way to reduce acrimonious behavioral intentions aimed at preserving their place in the social hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF