Horizontal and Vertical Racial/Ethnic Discrimination: Attributions and Impact

The book explores how discriminatory events are viewed by people of color, highlighting the contextual and relational variables that influence perception. It suggests that ingroup members can perpetuate racist discrimination, White people's discrimination is more often attributed to trait rather than situational causes, and perceived racist discrimination by ingroup members can be more acutely distressing due to cultural betrayal trauma theory. It provides an in-depth picture of discrimination and offers strategies for offsetting its effects, emphasizing the importance of centering the experiences of people of color in describing ambiguous social interactions and promoting comprehensive education and critical consciousness development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 84 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Discrimination is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that affects individuals of all backgrounds. It can take many forms, including racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, and disability discrimination. Discrimination can have a profound impact on an individual's life, including their physical and mental health, their ability to access education and employment, and their social relationships.

One of the key challenges in understanding discrimination is the fact that it is often viewed differently by people of color than by White people. This book explores the nuances of how discriminatory events are viewed by people of color and seeks to illuminate the contextual and relational variables that influence perception of discrimination.

The research suggests that ingroup members can perpetuate racist discrimination. This is consistent with attribution theory, which suggests that individuals tend to attribute negative events to internal characteristics of the perpetrator rather than to external factors. For example, if a White person is accused of discrimination, they may be more likely to attribute it to their own personal traits, such as racism, rather than to the systemic factors that contribute to discrimination.

Consistent with cultural betrayal trauma theory, perceived racist discrimination by ingroup members can be more acutely distressing because it is unexpected. Cultural betrayal trauma is a form of trauma that occurs when a person's cultural identity is threatened or violated. When ingroup members are subjected to discrimination, they may feel a sense of betrayal and loss, which can have a profound impact on their mental health and well-being.

The book provides an in-depth picture of discrimination and what individuals can do to offset the insidious effects of White supremacy. It highlights the importance of centering the experiences of people of color in describing ambiguous social interactions, with greater attention to the context, background, and relationships between perpetrators and targets of racist discrimination. It presents a clear next step in advancing our understanding of the attributes of discrimination.

The benefits of comprehensive education and critical consciousness development are emphasized. Comprehensive education can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge necessary to recognize and challenge discrimination. Critical consciousness development can help individuals develop a sense of empathy and understanding for others and can help them to challenge the dominant narratives that perpetuate discrimination.

In conclusion, discrimination is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that affects individuals of all backgrounds. It can have a profound impact on an individual's life, including their physical and mental health, their ability to access education and employment, and their social relationships. This book explores the nuances of how discriminatory events are viewed by people of color and seeks to illuminate the contextual and relational variables that influence perception of discrimination. The research suggests that ingroup members can perpetuate racist discrimination, consistent with attribution theory, and perceived racist discrimination by ingroup members can be more acutely distressing because it is unexpected, consistent with cultural betrayal trauma theory. The book provides an in-depth picture of discrimination and what individuals can do to offset the insidious effects of White supremacy. The benefits of comprehensive education and critical consciousness development are emphasized.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031330575
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023