Identity Politics and Black Utility Heuristic

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Questions and Answers

What is the first step in the process of the identity-to-politics link?

The first step is Definition, which involves determining the defining characteristics of the group.

How does racial group consciousness begin according to Miller et al.?

Racial group consciousness begins with Group identification (ID), which defines who is part of the group.

What does the term 'polar affect' refer to in the context of racial group consciousness?

Polar affect (PA) refers to the difference in feelings towards the in-group compared to the out-group.

Explain Dawson's puzzle regarding Black voters and class divisions.

Dawson's puzzle questions why Black voters do not exhibit the same class divisions that white Americans do. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Black utility heuristic' imply?

The Black utility heuristic implies that Black individuals use their perceptions of group interests as a proxy for their own interests. Signup and view all the answers

How do external information sources impact African Americans' understanding of their group interests?

External information sources lower the cognitive cost of determining what benefits the Black community as a whole. Signup and view all the answers

What does the measure concerning the impact of events on Black people ask individuals?

It asks if individuals think what happens to Black people will affect their own lives and how much it will do so. Signup and view all the answers

What historical factors contribute to the overdetermination of Black individuals' life chances by race?

Political and economic subjugation are historical factors that link the overdetermination of life chances by race. Signup and view all the answers

What are some reasons why movement successes may take decades to achieve?

Movement successes may take decades due to the need for different strategies at various times and the challenges of maintaining discipline within the movement. Signup and view all the answers

Why is protest alone considered rarely sufficient for achieving social change?

Protest alone is rarely sufficient because it must be accompanied by institutional engagement and strategic planning to create lasting changes. Signup and view all the answers

Define old-fashioned racism based on the content provided.

Old-fashioned racism involves beliefs about the innate inferiority of certain racial groups and includes negative sentiments towards those groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is racial resentment and how does it manifest in societal beliefs?

Racial resentment is the belief that certain racial groups do not adhere to the values of hard work and patriotism, suggesting that they deserve less support. Signup and view all the answers

How do generations of slavery and discrimination impact current perceptions of Black advancement?

Generations of slavery and discrimination have created conditions that hinder Black individuals' ability to advance, contradicting notions that they should succeed without assistance. Signup and view all the answers

Describe implicit bias and its effect on individuals' perception of racial groups.

Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect understanding and actions towards different racial groups, often resulting in discriminatory behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What role does movement discipline play in the success of social movements?

Movement discipline is critical as it ensures coherence, consistency, and the effective implementation of strategies needed to reach the movement’s goals. Signup and view all the answers

How might societal perceptions of Black people's work ethic differ due to racial prejudice?

Societal perceptions may shape the belief that Black individuals do not put in enough effort to succeed, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Signup and view all the answers

What significant realization did psychologist Mahzarin Banaji have about the test she was taking?

She realized that the test was revealing something important about her mindset, rather than the test itself being faulty. Signup and view all the answers

What scale did the modernized questions use to measure beliefs about group-level inferiority?

A 1-7 scale was used to rate different attributes such as hardworking to lazy and intelligent to unintelligent. Signup and view all the answers

What is racial spillover, according to Tesler?

Racial spillover refers to the unconscious attachment of non-race-related objects or ideas to race, influencing attitudes towards those objects. Signup and view all the answers

How has Obamacare been connected to racial attitudes during Obama's presidency?

Attitudes towards Obamacare were significantly predicted by racial resentment towards Obama. Signup and view all the answers

What are some potential explanations for polarization in racial attitudes?

Explanations include increasing social desirability bias, problems with racial resentment measures, and partisan identity performance. Signup and view all the answers

What could indicate that racial attitudes have not genuinely changed over time?

Social desirability bias might suggest that attitudes haven't changed, but rather what is considered acceptable to express has. Signup and view all the answers

Why might people today interpret racial resentment measures differently than in the 1980s?

Different political climates and generational shifts influence the interpretation of racial resentment items. Signup and view all the answers

What role does partisan identity performance play in shaping racial attitudes?

Partisan identity performance may lead individuals to signal racial liberalism as a part of being a 'good Democrat,' influencing their expressed attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the survey measuring racial resentment in the study by Jardina?

To assess the impact of rising status anxiety among white Americans on their attitudes towards policies like the Affordable Care Act and welfare. Signup and view all the answers

How did the candidates' strategies in interviews change based on their racial identity?

Candidates might focus on different issues depending on whether they are white, Latino, or Black, often tailoring their message to resonate with their racial bases. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the New Deal have on the Democratic Party's alignment with voters of color?

The New Deal coalition established the Democratic Party as the representative of voters of color at a mass level by the late 1930s. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the rise in hate crimes as discussed in the context of racial appeals?

It indicates a tangible consequence of increasing racial tensions fueled by political rhetoric. Signup and view all the answers

What is party sorting, and how does it relate to racial resentment among voters?

Party sorting refers to the shift of racially-resentful voters to the Republican Party and less-resentful voters to the Democratic Party. Signup and view all the answers

How did mass opinion in political parties shift prior to legislative actions on civil rights?

Mass opinion shifted significantly before the 1960s but governmental action lagged due to the Democratic elite's hesitance. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways does racial ID strength influence electoral outcomes?

Racial ID strength and attitudes are strong predictors of vote choice, affecting how individuals align politically. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of racial realignment entail in the context of political parties?

Racial realignment involves a significant shift in parties' policy priorities alongside changes in voter demographics and attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central argument of Frymer regarding electoral capture?

The primary reason for African American electoral capture is the worry of national party leaders that public appeals to black voters will produce national electoral defeats. Signup and view all the answers

According to Frymer, what key assumption underpins the behavior of political parties?

Parties do not seek election to promote policies; they promote policies to win elections. Signup and view all the answers

List two factors that contribute to a group's potential for electoral capture based on Frymer's theory.

Group cohesion with one party and whether the group is large and/or powerful. Signup and view all the answers

What demographic shift was projected by the U.S. Census for the year 2044?

The U.S. Census projected a majority-minority country by 2044. Signup and view all the answers

How does Frymer suggest groups can 'escape' electoral capture?

Through a social movement generating external pressure or withdrawal from the political system. Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated shift in Black swing state voters' support towards Trump in recent elections?

The estimated shift was about 2 percentage points towards Trump. Signup and view all the answers

What has been noted about Black voters in terms of their political alignment with the Democratic party?

Black voters remain the most solidly Democratic racial group despite some signs of shifting towards Trump. Signup and view all the answers

What recent trends have been observed regarding Latino Democratic identification?

The Democratic party is more aligned with Latino Americans in terms of policies, yet understanding the drivers of Latino Democratic identification remains complex. Signup and view all the answers

What is the puzzle regarding Asian American voting patterns despite their high median household income?

Asian Americans tend to vote Democratic despite a relatively high median household income due to factors like group consciousness and experiences of racial discrimination. Signup and view all the answers

What were the outcomes of interest in the microaggressions experiment conducted with participants?

The outcomes included the participants' perceptions of Democrats and Republicans, party feeling thermometers, and overall party identification. Signup and view all the answers

List the three competing hypotheses concerning the effects of Trump’s presidency on Latino and Asian American partisanship.

The three hypotheses are the weak partisanship hypothesis, the identity threat hypothesis, and the partisan stability hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

What role does racial triangulation play in Asian American partisanship according to Kuo, Malhotra, and Mo (2017)?

Racial triangulation refers to the positioning of Asian Americans in relation to other racial groups, impacting their voting behavior and identification with the Democratic Party. Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of group-level concerns influence Latino and Asian American support for the Democratic Party?

Group-level concerns, such as experiences of discrimination and shared racial identity, are found to be more significant in influencing support than individual-level self-interest. Signup and view all the answers

What did Valentino et al. (2020) find about implicit and explicit racial appeals in campaign ads?

They found that different visual depictions significantly affected participants' racial attitudes and support for political candidates, indicating that racial appeals influence voter behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between microaggressions and perceptions of the Democratic Party among Asian Americans.

Microaggressions experienced by Asian Americans can lead to negative perceptions of Republicans and foster a stronger identification with the Democratic Party. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'party feeling thermometers' refer to in the context of political identity research?

Party feeling thermometers are scales used to measure an individual's warmth or feelings towards political parties, reflecting their emotional connection and identification with those parties. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Identity-to-Politics Link

A process of distinct steps: defining group characteristics (who belongs), identification (self-identification), consciousness (shared beliefs/interests), venue selection (national/local/transnational), and choice of action.
Racial group consciousness involves group identification, polar affect (feelings toward in-group/out-group), polar power (awareness of group status), and system blame (recognizing unfairness).

Black Utility Heuristic

Blacks' life chances are often overdetermined by race, historically linked to political and economic subjugation.
Considering group interests over individual interests is rational given external pressures.
Black utility heuristic is measured by two items assessing the perceived impact of Black experiences on individual lives.

Linked Fate

Linked fate is commonly experienced. Measures may not consistently capture the concept.
Linked fate is not consistently associated with party identification, political ideology, voter registration, or community involvement.
Linked Fate is not synonymous with in-group altruism.

Pan-Ethnic Identity Formation

Pan-ethnic groups (e.g., Latinos, Asian Americans) contain multiple ethnic groups.
Identification with a pan-ethnic group can predict political participation.

POC ID (Pérez)

POC ID (person of color identity) emerges in the context of shifting demographics where groups are approaching majority status.
Heightened inter-group competition and growing interracial solidarity are two possibilities for explaining the emergence of POC ID.
POC ID is a type of identity management for racial minorities.
POC ID can be a resource for social competition.
POC identification is context-dependent..

Pérez's Hypotheses

Nested identity hypothesis
Affirmation/solidarity hypotheses
Racial uniqueness hypothesis
All relate to the formation and role of POC identity.

Forms of Activism

Activism includes protests, community meetings, distributing literature, contacting public officials, mutual aid, broadly, political participation
Activism can be categorized as high or low cost, inside or outside the system.

Collective Participation in Political Action

Collective participation involves cost, shared political goals, and methods beyond the political system.
Opportunity structures regarding external threat, ideological tension, and organized domestic pressure shape these actions.

Stages of the Civil Rights Movement

Key periods are identified by periodization of activist action.

Relationship Between Insider/Outsider Tactics in CRM and IRM

Strategies of protest and action must account for the political context
Movement effectiveness can be long-term and involve various strategies.

Ways of Conceptualizing and Measuring Racial Prejudice (Cramer)

Beliefs about the innate inferiority of groups
"How often do you get disgusted with blacks?"
Perceived racial differences in traits (including in athleticism, intelligence, and tendency to act violently), often linked to implicit biases.

Racial Resentment

Belief that minorities do not adhere to norms around hard work and patriotism.
Perceived discrimination against minorities, difficulty in upward mobility.

Explicit Racism

Explicit racism is characterized by modern questions designed to measure beliefs about group-level inferiority.
Measures on a variety of traits rate group attributes on a scale.

Polarization in Racial Attitudes

Growing social desirability bias is affecting data regarding racial attitudes.
The measurement of racial resentment is increasingly problematic.

Partisan Identification

Latino and Asian American support for the Democratic party is linked to group-level concerns. Individual self-interest matters less.
Trump's presidency's effect on Latino and Asian American partisanship is a significant research question.
Identity and group concerns are more significant than individual self-interest in determining political affiliation.

Implicit and Explicit Racial Appeals (Valentino et al.)

Campaign advertisements and their impact on racial attitudes and political affiliations.
Identifying positive and negative depictions of different racial groups and its influence on social perceptions and attitudes.

Relationship Between Partisanship and Group Identity

Implicit versus explicit racial appeals
Impact of campaign messages on political affiliation.
Role of party sorting and realignment.

Electoral Capture (Frymer)

Key argument: National party leaders' concern regarding electoral defeat influences how they appeal to minority voters.
Party leaders will prioritize election victory over implementing policies supporting these groups.
Requirements for capturing minority voters in a given political system.

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Description

This quiz explores the intricate relationship between identity and politics, particularly focusing on the experiences of Black individuals. It covers key concepts such as the Black utility heuristic, linked fate, and group consciousness, highlighting how these factors influence political choices and social awareness.