Project Title: “Outgroup members’ gain comes at my expense: How do Zero-Sum beliefs moderate attributions of reverse racism for the self?”
Mentor: Taylor Ballinger, Psychology
Zero-sum beliefs (ZSBs) are assumptions that the perceived gains of low-status group members come at the expense of the high-status group members. Previous research has shown that endorsement of ZSBs is related to perceived bias against high-status groups (Wilkins et al., 2016). The current study examines whether endorsement of ZSBs beliefs increases non-Hispanic Whites’ perceptions of reverse racism in reaction to witnessing a gain from an outgroup (vs. ingroup) member. In an experiment, White participants (n=250) learned that they were passed over for a promotion. We manipulated whether the promotion went to an ingroup (White male) or outgroup member (Black female). We hypothesize that when an outgroup (vs. ingroup) member receives the promotion, participants who are higher in ZSBs are more likely to see themselves as victims of reverse racism. In addition, we predict that they would perceive the hiring procedures as less fair and report more anger toward the decision. The study may suggest that people’s lay beliefs about diversity affect perceptions of discrimination when an outgroup member receives a status gain.