JUDGMENTS OF HATE SPEECH - THE EFFECTS OF TARGET GROUP, PUBLICNESS, AND BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES OF THE TARGET

Judgments of offensiveness and accountability of hate speech as a func tion of contextual factors of the speech and characteristics of the ob servers were examined. A sample of 212 college students and 53 communi ty participants responded to 12 scenarios describing incidents of hate speech. The within-subject variables manipulated in the scenarios wer e the target of the speech (ethnic groups, women, and gays), the publi cness of the speech, and the behavioral response of the target. Ethnic speech was rated more offensive than gender- or gay-targeted speech; public speech was rated more offensive and more accountable than priva te speech; and public speech was rated more offensive and accountable when a response occurred and private speech was rated more offensive w hen a response did not occur. The gender and ethnicity of the raters m oderated the effects of the experimental variables, as well as showing main effects. The findings of this study suggest that responses to ha te speech are complex and contextual.