The Role of Trust in Reducing Confrontation-Related Social Costs
Abstract
Interpersonal confrontation of prejudiced remarks or behavior consistently reduces people’s subsequent expressions of bias but comes with social costs (e.g., dislike, avoidance) for the confronter. However, research has yet to address how interpersonal dynamics influence reactions to confrontations. The present research (N = 1,019) integrated the close relationships and prejudice reduction literatures to investigate whether interpersonal trust reduces confrontation’s social costs. Study 1 provided correlational evidence that trust mitigated the effect of sexism confrontation on negative other-directed affect (e.g., irritation), and in turn, social costs. Manipulation of confrontation and trust in Study 2 provided causal evidence that trust buffered against social costs: Participants confronted about racism directed more negative other-directed affect and social costs at their study partner than not-confronted participants; however, these effects were mitigated among participants who underwent a trust-building exercise with their confronter. Study 3 showed that the effect of trust on social costs extended to an ecologically-valid context. Participants were confronted about racism by either a friend or stranger. Social costs were buffered for people confronted by friends versus strangers, and this effect was serially mediated by pre-existing trust and negative other-directed affect. Importantly, confrontation reduced subsequent expression of bias in all studies. Practically, findings provide a reassuring message to people who do not confront due to fear of social costs: To the extent that interpersonal trust can be created or is pre-existing, social costs should be mitigated. Theoretically, the present research highlights how insights from close relationships research can advance our understanding of prejudice reduction.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Monteith, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Language|Social psychology
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