Dog whistle mascots: Native American mascots as normative expressions of prejudice

Publication date: Available online 10 May 2019Source: Journal of Experimental Social PsychologyAuthor(s): Michael W. Kraus, Xanni Brown, Hannah SwobodaAbstractIn this research we examine how normative expressions of prejudice shape university communities. Across four studies, we examine the prevalence of a former university mascot depicting harmful stereotypes about Native Americans and how exposure to that mascot influences people's attitudes and behaviors. In Study 1, images of the mascot persist on>10% of university apparel worn by students, in 50% of campus spaces, and in 5% of images searched online. Surveying students on this campus, we find that students with lower (higher) reported explicit prejudice also tended to have lower (higher) belonging at the university (Study 2). In two final experimental studies (N = 683), when compared to stereotype free university advertisements exposure to the stereotypic mascot reduced donations to the university by 5.5%, and in particular, among people low versus high in explicit prejudice (Studies 3 and 4). Overall, these findings suggest that institutional norms play an important role in expressions of prejudice and experiences of belonging.
Source: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research