Perceptions of Social Support in Response to Racism: Consequences of White People Validating Versus Reframing Racial Discrimination

Abstract

People of color (POC) commonly experience racism, yet little research examines how POC wish to be supported after instances of discrimination. This research draws on close relationship and intergroup relations literature to theorize which types of social support are perceived as more responsive. In past experimental work (Jansen, Kwok, Ashcroft, Marigold, & Bergsieker, in prep.), White people intended to give negative validation (acknowledging difficulty) more than positive reframing (downplaying negatives) after reading about racial discrimination experiences. The current experiments (N = 435) examine how such responses are received by POC (and Whites). Participants (270 POC, 165 White) viewed realistic Facebook posts where POC shared racial discrimination versus non-racial negative experiences, then rated the supportiveness of validating, reframing, and claimed understanding responses from Whites. POC (and Whites) rated negative validation and claimed understanding as more supportive than positive reframing, especially for reactions to racial (vs. non-racial) experiences. In the racial experience condition, negative validation was perceived more supportive (overall and relative to positive reframing) when participants more strongly attributed the experience to race. Implications for how White people can provide more responsive support to POC who disclose racism are discussed.