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Kim Davalos
Psychology

Gordon Hall, Mentor

The Interface Between Social Dominance and Ethnic Identity

The present study examines the relationship between an individual difference variable, social dominance orientation (SDO), and measures of ethnic identity. Participants will include members of both dominant and subordinate social groups. Well-established scales measure the levels of SDO and ethnic identity. Differential relationships between level of SDO and ethnic identity should exist for both subordinate and dominant group members. Testing three related hypotheses will help to demonstrate this differential. First, an asymmetrical relationship should exist between level of SDO and ethnic group status. Second, the strength of ethnic identity should mediate the relationship between SDO and ethnic group status for subordinate and dominant groups: dominant group members should exhibit a positive relationship between SDO and strength of ethnic identity. For subordinate groups this relationship should be negative. Finally, SDO and ethnic identity should act as predictor variables for endorsement of prejudicial attitudes and propensity to prejudice.