Group Status Drives Majority and Minority Integration Preferences

Eric Hehman, Samuel L. Gaertner, John F. Dovidio, Eric W. Mania, Rita Guerra, David C. Wilson, Brian M. Friel

Psychological Science · 2012 · Volume 23 · Issue 1

Abstract

This research examined preferences for national- and campus-level assimilative and pluralistic policies among Black and White students under different contexts, as majority- and minority-group members. We targeted attitudes at two universities, one where 85% of the student body is White, and another where 76% of students are Black. The results revealed that when a group constituted the majority, its members generally preferred assimilationist policies, and when a group constituted the minority, its members generally preferred pluralistic policies. The results support a functional perspective: Both majority and minority groups seek to protect and enhance their collective identities.

Keywords

immigration, intergroup dynamics, sociocultural factors, racial and ethnic attitudes and relations, minority groups

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