Race, economic class, and the intention to work: Some normative and attitudinal correlates

Abstract

Tested 4 hypotheses, derived from a combination of instrumentality-expectancy theory and the concept of a nonresponsive environment for the hard-core unemployed. Ss were 100 black and 100 white males 18-50 yrs old, with about half of each group from the working class and half from the hard-core unemployed. It was expected that (a) the hard core would perceive weaker normative pressures to seek work; (b) perceived normative pressure would have lower correlations with intentions to seek work in the hard-core samples than in the working-class samples; (c) the attitude toward each of 5 specific job-seeking behaviors would independently predict intended frequency of performance of each behavior; and (d) an instrumentality approach would predict intended frequency of each behavior less well in the black and hard-core samples than in the white and working-class groups. Results partially support Hypotheses 1 and 2; partially reverse Hypothesis 3; and do not support Hypothesis 4. Data are interpreted as supporting the concept of white working-class alienation. (18 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)