Virtue Interventions and Interracial Interactions

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of courage and patience interventions on interracial interactions. Majority group members are important actors when it comes to increasing positive interracial interactions in multicultural environments. Although research has demonstrated that psychological factors may hinder majority group members from greater engagement in interracial interactions (e.g., emotion dysregulation, threat), more psychological interventions targeting majority group member engagement in interracial interactions are needed. First, using a theory-based approach, this study examines whether virtues are associated with key interracial interaction variables. Next, this study examines the effects of virtue interventions targeting White students in a U.S. context on an interracial interaction behavioral measure and post-intervention affect, and the moderating effect of intervention condition on the association between pre-intervention threat levels and post-intervention affect. Last, this study tests whether distinct groups of White participants emerge based on their responses to threat-related measures. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.