Consequences of Reverse Discrimination

Abstract

62 white subjects participated in an experiment to assess reactions to reverse discrimination. After losing to a black confederate on two tests of ability either because the confederate had more ability or because the confederate was black (reverse discrimination), the subjects' reactions to the black were assessed. Reverse discrimination was considered more unjust and this could possibly be viewed as a violation of three principles, equity, equality, and need. Furthermore, reverse discrimination produced some tendency to feel one had less control over rewards in life. However, reverse discrimination did not increase aggression or prejudice toward blacks or a tendency to believe in an unjust world Possible reasons were given for why a feeling of injustice in reaction to reverse discrimination did not lead to overt aggression toward the black confederate.