UCLA

This dissertation integrates the literatures of social identity, intragroup processes, and cultural psychology to explore how dynamic norms can shift attitudes tied to White racial identity. Four empirical studies on the interplay between White identity, racial attitudes, ingroup conversations about race, and dynamic norms explore potential mechanisms for motivating attitude change within a privileged racial group. Two studies gathered baseline data on norm perceptions and tested the effectiveness of different dynamic norm appeal framings on feelings towards discussing race. Another two experimental conversation studies investigated the effects of brief conversations about race with another White person on behavioral intentions to engage in future conversations about race. There was no effect of a single unscaffolded conversation about race on attitudes toward White privilege. There was a marginal effect for dynamic norm appeals that contextualized the benefits of discussing race on increasing interest in future conversations about race. A dynamic norm appeal and subsequent conversation with a White partner did not significantly influence racial attitudes or perceived normativity of discussing race. Conditional process analysis models revealed a potential mechanism for increasing interest in discussing race by focusing on positive ingroup feelings rather than avoiding potential anxiety and negative feelings. A novel psychological mechanism for studying and intervening on White intragroup processes that examines approach vs. avoidance motivations is discussed.