The predictors of non-prejudicial attitudes in secondary school students.

Abstract

Research has identified personal attributions which appear to correlate with non-prejudicial attitudes. The Defense of Prejudice theory identifies these attributes as a View of Self, a View of Others, a View of Society, and Logical Reasoning. This study sought to confirm the theory as valid and to identify those sub-scales within the defenses which might be stronger predictors than others in the identification of non-prejudicial attitudes. The subjects selected for the study were four secondary schools in northern and central Minnesota with differing school populations. The relationships between lack of prejudice were identified with correlation coefficients, multiple regression and mean scores. Analysis of the data confirmed all four areas of defense are valid predictors of non-prejudicial attitudes. Although there is a difference in the strength of the relationships between each defense scale and prejudice, the patterns are consistent for each grade and gender. The individual sub-scales are consistent in strength, using both correlations and multiple regression. Females were consistently less prejudiced than males, and prejudicial attitudes lessened as age increased. Overall, there was a pattern of decrease in prejudice from grade seven to grade twelve, although not a consistent linear rise. The pattern was consistent for males and females in each school. Empathy was generally the overall strongest predictor of non-prejudicial attitudes in all schools, for all grades, and for both males and females. Since one sub-scale from each area of defense was consistently one of the four sub-scales with the most strength in predicting prejudicial attitudes, it was determined the analysis could be employed with valid and reliable results using one sub-scale for each area of defense. If we are able to influence empathy, logic, anomie, and self-concept, then we should be able to decrease prejudicial attitudes among students.