How Variations in Behavior and Phenotype Affect In-Group Stereotyping and Belonging Among African American Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Abstract

The present study based on social identity theory and phenotypic bias models examined how variations in phenotype and behavior related to in-group belonging and stereotyping for African American adolescents and emerging adults. Although ethnic-racial typicality is often considered as either phenotypic or behavioral, little research has investigated the interaction of these two dimensions. Forty African American high school students ( Mage = 15.38, SD = 0.81) and 42 college students ( Mage = 19.55, SD = 1.35) watched animated clips of African American male characters varying in typicality. Participants rated the character’s stereotypical traits, academic potential, and likelihood of intraracial group belonging. Results showed that characters who were stereotypical in behavior were rated with higher averages of stereotypical traits, lower averages of counterstereotypical traits, and more likely to belong than were characters with less-typical behaviors. There was also an interaction between a character’s behavior and phenotype for judgments of academic potential among high school students, but not college students. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for African American youth are discussed.

Do Ethnic-Racial Identity Dimensions Moderate the Relations of Outgroup Discrimination and Ingroup Marginalization to Self-esteem in Black and Latinx Undergraduates?

“…Previous research has found that those who appear more typical of their ingroup are more likely to experience outgroup discrimination (Maddox, 2004) and are perceived as more likely to be accepted among their ingroup (Wilson, 2021). Furthermore, previous studies have indicated that felt typicality among ethnic-racial minoritized persons was positively related to self-esteem and well-being (Hoffmann et al, 2020;Mitchell et al, 2018;Wilson & Leaper, 2016).…”

“…Ingroup marginalization describes a within-group system of prejudice that stems from and mirrors processes of privilege and exclusion traditionally observed with outgroup discrimination. It can be based on various factors including adherence to perceived group norms for behavior, language, speech styles, and phenotypic appearance or skin tone (Bergin & Cooks, 2002;Fordham & Ogbu, 1986;Hunter, 1998;Maddox, 2004;Uzogara, 2019;Wilson, 2021). It is important to note that we are not equating the societal structures that perpetuate outgroup racist discrimination with the processes underlying ingroup marginalization.…”

“…bias from within their ethnic-racial group such as pressures to conform to ingroup expectations and identity invalidation (Bergin & Cooks, 2002;Wilson, 2021). These ingroup experiences may create their own unique stressors, such as a decreased sense of belonging and feelings of shame (Cooper et al, 2015;Gonzalez, 2019;Murray et al, 2012;Wilson & Leaper, 2016).…”