Drexler James Examines How Beliefs About Racial Inequality Shape Policy Attitudes
What people attribute the cause of Black-White racial economic inequality to may shape the policies they support. In a new study published in Political Psychology, Alicia Bowling, a graduate student, and Drexler James, faculty, investigate how perceived causes of Black-White economic inequality influence attitudes toward racialized public policies.
The research examines whether individuals attribute racial disparities to structural factors, such as discrimination and systemic barriers, or to individual-level causes, such as a lack of motivation relate to support for race-relevant policies, including whether the government should financially invest in Black Americans. Using nationally-representative data from the General Social Survey, the study finds that these beliefs are strongly linked to the extent to which one supports policies aimed at reducing inequality. When inequality is viewed as rooted in structural injustice, individuals are more likely to endorse equity-focused policies. In contrast, when disparities are attributed to personal responsibility, support for equity-focused policies decreases.
Bowling and James’ work highlights how psychological beliefs about race and inequality influence broader political and social attitudes.
Alicia Bowling, third-year Ph.D. student, in the social area in the Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota.
Drexler James, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota; affiliated faculty member of the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC).
Composed by Nguyen Kiet Pham, communications assistant.
