Disciplines
Race and Ethnicity | Social Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Negative Emotions Connected to Racial Experiences
For many students, college is the first environment in which they experience racial diversity. Because of this, university campuses become microcosms for the working world including the negative interracial interactions. Harwood and colleagues (2012) found that students of color lack a sense of belonging on predominately white college campuses. They experience microaggressions, racial jokes and comments, and uncomfortable interpersonal interactions (Harwood, 2012). Racially charged experiences influence emotions and those emotions, in turn, influence future racial experiences (Kim, 2016). It follows that students, faculty, and staff who endure a negative racial climate on campus experience adverse effects on their emotions and future academic/ career success. This presentation will focus on the negative emotions and experiences of the participants. Data was collected through focus groups of students, faculty, staff. Participants were placed in groups based on ethnic/ racial identity to ensure comfortability with sharing personal experiences. Participants were interviewed about their perception of the racial climate on the university’s campus and the surrounding county. The sessions were recorded, and researchers were present to take notes on the emotions and experiences. Data was transcribed, then coded using Grounded Theory. Results will be presented to the university’s administration, along with ways the university can improve the racial climate. Future publication of this research will shed light on the types of race-related experiences that occur on college campuses and the emotions associated with them.
Keywords: Race-relations, racial climate, emotions, campus interactions
References
Hardwood, S. A., Hunnt, M. B., Mendenhall, R., & Lewis, J. A. (2012) Racial microaggressions in the residence halls: Experiences of students of color at a predominantly white university. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 5, 159–173. doi:10.1037/a0028956
Kim, J. Y. (2016) Racial emotions and the feeling of equality. University of Colorado Law Review, 87, 437–496. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=2807071
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Katherine White
Additional Faculty
Ravi Ghadge, Sociology and Criminal Justice, rghadge@kennesaw.edu
Included in
Negative Emotions Connected to Racial Experiences
Negative Emotions Connected to Racial Experiences
For many students, college is the first environment in which they experience racial diversity. Because of this, university campuses become microcosms for the working world including the negative interracial interactions. Harwood and colleagues (2012) found that students of color lack a sense of belonging on predominately white college campuses. They experience microaggressions, racial jokes and comments, and uncomfortable interpersonal interactions (Harwood, 2012). Racially charged experiences influence emotions and those emotions, in turn, influence future racial experiences (Kim, 2016). It follows that students, faculty, and staff who endure a negative racial climate on campus experience adverse effects on their emotions and future academic/ career success. This presentation will focus on the negative emotions and experiences of the participants. Data was collected through focus groups of students, faculty, staff. Participants were placed in groups based on ethnic/ racial identity to ensure comfortability with sharing personal experiences. Participants were interviewed about their perception of the racial climate on the university’s campus and the surrounding county. The sessions were recorded, and researchers were present to take notes on the emotions and experiences. Data was transcribed, then coded using Grounded Theory. Results will be presented to the university’s administration, along with ways the university can improve the racial climate. Future publication of this research will shed light on the types of race-related experiences that occur on college campuses and the emotions associated with them.
Keywords: Race-relations, racial climate, emotions, campus interactions
References
Hardwood, S. A., Hunnt, M. B., Mendenhall, R., & Lewis, J. A. (2012) Racial microaggressions in the residence halls: Experiences of students of color at a predominantly white university. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 5, 159–173. doi:10.1037/a0028956
Kim, J. Y. (2016) Racial emotions and the feeling of equality. University of Colorado Law Review, 87, 437–496. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=2807071