THE ACCURATE PERCEPTION OF ANTI-BLACK ATTITUDES: A LENS MODEL APPROACH

Adele WeaverMollie Ruben^*

• University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States

The purpose of this study was to observe how accurate Black and White perceivers were in detecting White targets' anti-Black attitudes, the nonverbal cues that were related to targets' anti-Black attitudes, and the cues that were related to perceivers' judgments of targets' anti-Black attitudes. White targets (N = 61) engaged in an interracial interview and completed a self-report measure of anti-Black attitudes. We recruited Black perceivers (N = 114) and White perceivers (N = 108) through Prolific who watched 30 second, silent clips of targets and inferred each targets' anti-Black attitudes. Research assistants coded the clips for various nonverbal behaviors (e.g. smiling) and impressions (e.g. positivity, anger). Black and White perceivers were able to accurately (above chance) detect targets' anti-Black attitudes. Targets' anti-Black attitudes were significantly and positively related to coded target anger during the interracial interaction. Similarly, Black and White perceivers' judgments of targets' anti-Black attitudes were significantly and positively related to coded target anger. Several other nonverbal behaviors generally reflecting less positive feelings and impressions were also related to perceivers' judgments of higher anti-Black attitudes. Relationships between targets' self-reported attitudes and nonverbal cues, as well as the relationships between perceiver judgments of attitudes and nonverbal cues, were largely only significant when targets were interviewing with a Black woman and not a Black man. Lastly, Black and White perceivers were more accurate in detecting targets' anti-Black attitudes when the target was interviewing with a Black woman, compared to a Black man. Implications for identifying anti-Black attitudes in workplace settings are discussed.