Publication Date

3-1980

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Carley Dodd, John O'Connor, Carl Kell

Degree Program

Department of Communication

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

The purpose of the first phase of the study was to determine whether Blacks perceive feelings of racial prejudice in Whites primarily from verbal or nonverbal communication cues, and to determine which specific nonverbal cues cause Blacks to perceive feelings of racial prejudice. Interesting results were obtained. Blacks do rely very heavily on nonverbal cues in determining racial prejudice. Black males appear to be more sensitive in perceiving feelings of racial discrimination than their female counterparts. Specific prejudicial White nonverbal behavior cues were identified, with proxemics and haptics appearing to be key indicators of White prejudice, as perceived by Blacks.

The second phase of this paper sought to determine if Blacks' perceptions of racial prejudice in a white speaker differ from Blacks' perceptions of credibility in a white speaker. It further sought to determine if Blacks actually perceive racial prejudice in a white speaker the way they say they perceive racial prejudice in Whites in general. Again, interesting results were obtained. Manipulation of prejudicial conditions caused significant differences in Blacks' perceptions of a white speaker. When subjected to multiple factor analyses of variance, the data suggested that Blacks' perceptions of credibility in a White closely coincide with their perceptions of racial prejudice. Additionally, Blacks appeared to perceive racial prejudice in a white speaker much the way they say they perceive racial prejudice in Whites in general--nonverbally.

Disciplines

Communication | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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