Title page for ETD etd-11162010-204644

Type of Document

Dissertation

Author

Doerr, Celeste

URN

etd-11162010-204644

Title

The Implications of Burdensomeness Expectancies for Avoidance in Interracial Interactions

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology, Department of

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
E. Ashby Plant	Committee Chair
Jon Maner	Committee Member
Joyce Carbonell	Committee Member
Joyce Ehrlinge	Committee Member
Janice McCabe	University Representative

Keywords

African-American
Burdensomeness Expectancies
Interracial Interactions
Racial and Ethnic Relations

Date of Defense

2010-11-01

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

I proposed that burdensomeness expectancies are subtle concerns about bearing the burden of explanation on behalf of one’s group that promote avoidance in interracial interactions. Two preliminary studies demonstrated that burdensomeness expectancies are a particular concern for Black/African American individuals and are related to avoidance of interracial contact. In Study 3, I examined whether burdensomeness expectancies could be alleviated and whether doing so would decrease Black participants’ avoidance toward a White confederate. Participants viewed videos in which a White peer, with whom they expected to interact, expressed culturally sensitive or insensitive opinions. A control group saw a video in which the confederate did not discuss race. I assessed self-reported desire to avoid the interaction, avoidance-focused and approach-focused self-regulatory intentions, ratings of confederates, as well as participants’ verbal and nonverbal approach-related behaviors in a video greeting they prepared. The manipulation failed to influence burdensomeness expectancies as intended and did not influence the dependent variables. Theoretical and methodological considerations for future work are discussed.

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