Tracking changes in nonprejudiced motivations: Influences of social and political events

Author

Duangporn Pattanakul, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow

Date of Award

12-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Michael Olson

Committee Members

Lowell Gaertner, Sarah Lamer

Abstract

This study examined changes in nonprejudiced motivations toward Black people over the 2017-2024 periods. It also explored gender difference in motivations to control prejudiced reactions. The sample was 11064 White undergraduate students (3589 male, 7348 female, and 127 individuals identifying as non-binary) from the University of Tennessee. Nonprejudiced motivations was measured using the Motivation to Control Prejudiced Reaction (MCPR), assessing concern with acting prejudice and restraint to avoid dispute subscales. Results indicated that both concern and restraint motivations increased after the George Floyd murder, then decreased at following time points. In addition, results showed that, mirroring political trends, concern gradually rose among women and stayed flat among men prior to 2020.

Keywords: prejudice, motivation, social norms

Recommended Citation

Pattanakul, Duangporn, "Tracking changes in nonprejudiced motivations: Influences of social and political events. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2025.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/15482