Date of Award

1-3-2003

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

First Advisor

Alan R King

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the validity of the White Racial Identity Attitude Scale (WRIAS: Helms & Carter, 1990) and Modem Racism Scale (MRS: McConahay, Hardee & Batts, 1981) in the prediction of discriminatory behavior. These measures were hypothesized to predict prejudiced behavior associated with simulated criminal sentencing as reflected in the Criminal Justice Questionnaire (CJQ) developed for purposes of the present study. The CJQ was administered on two occasions separated by a one month interval. Descriptions are given for six crimes (shoplifting, robbery, DWI, murder, rape, and child molestation) and the perpetrator race is manipulated in a counterbalanced format between the two administrations. Additional objectives of the present study included a replication of the Lambert procedure (Lambert, Cronen, Chasteen, and Lickel, 1996) and an attempt to distinguish between generalized and racially-motivated forms of judgmental behavior using the First Impression Interaction Procedure (FOP: King and Pate, 2001). A total of 167 White college students completed a subset of the above variables. The MRS did not prove to be a useful predictor of CJQ penalty differentials based on race o f perpetrator. Significant relationships were found between WRIAS scores and penalty differentials, particularly for sex offenses and murder. The racism measures were not associated with generalized forms o f judgmental behavior as reflected in the FIIP variables. The Lambert effect was not replicated.

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