Angry opposition to government redress: When the structurally advantaged perceive themselves as relatively deprived
Author(s): Colin wayne Leach, Aarti Iyer, Anne Pedersen
Abstract: We examined (structurally advantaged) non-Aborigines’ willingness for political action against government redress to (structurally disadvantaged) Aborigines in Australia.We found non-Aborigines opposed to government redress to be high in symbolic racism and to perceive their ingroup as deprived relative to Aborigines. However, only perceived relative deprivation was associated with feelings of group-based anger. In addition, consistent with relative deprivation and emotion theory, it was group-based anger that fully mediated a willingness for political action against government redress. Thus, the specific group-based emotion of anger explained why symbolic racism and relative deprivation promoted a willingness for political action against government redress to a structurally disadvantaged out-group. Theoretical and political implications are discussed.
Publication Title: Leach, C.W., Iyer, A. & Pedersen, A. (2007). Angry opposition to government redress: When the structurally advantaged perceive themselves as relatively deprived. British Journal of Social Psychology, 46, 191-204
Pub Year: 2007
Keywords: anger, group position, group power, change motivation, legitimacy

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