Intergroup Attitudes among Ethnic Minority Adolescents: A Causal Model |
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Authors: | Jean S Phinney Debra L Ferguson Jerry D Tate |
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Institution: | Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032-8227;The University of California, Santa Barbara;California State University, Los angeles |
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Abstract: | To examine the influence of ethnic idenilty and intergroup contact on adolescents' attitudes toward other ethnic groups, we studied eighth and eleventh graders from 2 predominantly non-white school districts. Surveys completed by 547 adolescents from 3 ethnic groups (133 African Americans, 219 Latinos, and 195 Asian Americans) assessed in-group and out-group attitudes, out-group interaction, out-group contact, and ethnic identity. A causal model suggested 2 pathways leading to positive out-group attitudes. In one pathway, ethnic identity increased with age and predicted positive in-group attitudes; these attitudes contributed to positive out-group attitudes. In a separate pathway, ethnic diversity outside of schcool led to more out-group interaction in school, which in turn predicted positive out-group attitudes. The results support developmental and multiculturalism views of intergroup relations. |
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