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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 6, 833-846 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167206287182
© 2006 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

The Causes and Consequences of an Avoidance-Focus for Interracial Interactions

E. Ashby Plant

Florida State University

David A. Butz

Florida State University

The current work examined the causes and consequences of non-Black people’s desire to avoid interracial interactions (an avoidance-focus). Expecting to respond with racial bias in inter-racial interactions was argued to result in an avoidance-focus for such interactions, which was hypothesized to have negative implications for the quality of interracial interactions. Across three studies, feedback indicating that non-Black participants would respond with racial bias in interactions with Black people resulted in anxiety and the desire to avoid the interaction. In addition, when participants with an avoidance-focus interacted with a Black confederate (Study 2), they had shorter interactions that were rated as less pleasant by the confederate and participant as compared to those without an avoidance-focus. Avoidance-focused participants were less interested in future interactions and came across as more avoidant and biased to their partner than less avoidance-focused participants. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for racial relations.

Key Words: intergroup anxiety • prejudice • intergroup relations • inter-racial interactions • avoidance • self-efficacy


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This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Human Resource Development ReviewHome page
G. M. Combs and J. Griffith
An Examination of Interracial Contact:The Influence of Cross-Race Interpersonal Efficacy and Affect Regulation
Human Resource Development Review, September 1, 2007; 6(3): 222 - 244.
[Abstract] [PDF]