The expression of cultural sensitivity in the presence of African Americans - An analysis of motives

This study explores the motivational factors underlying European American individuals tendency to display more culturally sensitive behavior in the presence of African Americans. European American mate college students (N = 75) individually viewed and evaluated racially insensitive humor, ostensibly in small groups with two confederates. The confederates' racial backgrounds were varied so that they consisted of either (a) two European Americans, (b) one European American and one African American, or (c) two African Americans. Half of the participants in each condition reacted to the humor privately, whereas the other half responded to the humor publicly. It was revealed that the mere perception of the presence of an African American individual prompted participants to display cultural sensitivity, evaluating the anti-AfricanAmerican humor negatively. It was interesting that this tendency was equally prevalent when participants rated the humor publicly and when they rated it privately. Implications for understanding the nature of cultural sensitivity and interracial self disclosure are discussed.