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The Effects of Morally Reframed Messages on White Individuals' Attitudes Toward White Privilege

Deamer, Samantha K
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1617871604453217

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Many White Americans are unaware of or tend to deny the existence of White privilege (Knowles et al., 2014). One potential explanation for this denial is the belief that America functions a meritocratic society (Alvarado, 2010; Goode & Keefer, 2016; Knowles & Lowery, 2012). Because prior research has demonstrated that morally reframed messages can change individuals' beliefs when the reframed message aligns with their personal moral values (Voelkel & Feinberg, 2018), the current study utilized morally reframed messages to challenge individuals' beliefs about meritocracy in order to promote their awareness of White privilege. Participants, recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, completed measures to assess their personal moral values and meritocracy beliefs. Subsequently, participants read a morally reframed message about America as a meritocracy that reflected one of five moral values, and then completed a measure of White privilege awareness. Results revealed that individuals who endorsed the moral values of Authority/Respect, Loyalty/Betrayal, and Purity/Sanctity (the binding foundations) reported stronger beliefs in meritocracy and less awareness of White privilege, whereas individuals who endorsed the moral values of Harm/Care and Fairness/Reciprocity (individualizing foundations) reported weaker beliefs in meritocracy and greater awareness of White privilege. Contrary to expectations, results did not reveal that the morally reframed messages promoted individuals' White privilege awareness when the messages aligned with individuals' moral values. The strengths of the current study, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research, are discussed.
Tammy L. Sonnentag, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Christian End, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Stacey Raj, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
79 p.
Psychology
White privilege, meritocracy, moral foundations, morally reframed messages

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Deamer, S. K. (2021). The Effects of Morally Reframed Messages on White Individuals' Attitudes Toward White Privilege [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1617871604453217

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Deamer, Samantha. The Effects of Morally Reframed Messages on White Individuals' Attitudes Toward White Privilege. 2021. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1617871604453217.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Deamer, Samantha. "The Effects of Morally Reframed Messages on White Individuals' Attitudes Toward White Privilege." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1617871604453217

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xupsy1617871604453217
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.