Aversive Racism

Aversive racism is a form of bias that is not overtly expressed but may reflect the attitudes of a substantial portion of people in societies that have strong egalitarian traditions and norms. Much of the research on aversive racism has focused on the orientation of Whites toward Blacks in the United States, but similar attitudes have been found among members of dominant groups in other countries with strong contemporary egalitarian values but discriminatory histories or policies. In contrast to the traditional form of racism, which is expressed openly and directly, aversive racism operates in subtle and indirect ways. For example, the negative feelings that aversive racists have toward Blacks do not manifest themselves in open hostility or hatred. Instead, aversive racists' reactions may involve discomfort, ...