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The association between media exposure of interracial relationships and attitudes toward interracial relationships
Author(s) -
Lienemann Brianna A.,
Stopp Heather T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/jasp.12037
Subject(s) - psychology , social psychology , association (psychology) , psychological intervention , psychiatry , psychotherapist
From an extended contact hypothesis ( ECH ) framework, mass‐media portrayals of interracial relationships may encourage positive attitudes toward such relationships. Caucasian participants ( N = 218) indicated examples of media portrayals of B lack– W hite interracial relationships, attitudes toward B lacks, attitudes toward interracial relationships, degree of identification with Whites, and the degree to which B lacks are included in self‐representations. Supporting our hypotheses, extended contact with B lack– W hite relationships via media portrayals was associated with more positive attitudes toward B lacks and interracial relationships. These relationships were mediated by the degree to which B lacks are included in self‐representations. This study furthers understanding of ECH by including representations of dyadic relationships and suggests an avenue for the creation of interventions for improving attitudes toward interracial relationships.