RACISM, CONSERVATISM, AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION, AND INTELLECTUAL SOPHISTICATION - A MATTER OF PRINCIPLED CONSERVATISM OR GROUP DOMINANCE

Using data from 3 different samples, the authors found that: (a) the r elationships between political conservatism and racism generally incre ased as a function of educational sophistication: however, the relatio nship between political conservatism and anti-Black affect did not inc rease with educational sophistication. (b) The correlation between pol itical conservatism and racism could be entirely accounted for by thei r mutual relationship with social dominance orientation. (c) Generally , the net effect of political conservatism, racism, and social dominan ce orientation on opposition to affirmative action increased with incr easing education. These findings contradict much of the case for the p rincipled conservatism hypothesis, which maintains that political valu es that are largely devoid of racism. especially among highly educated people, are the major source of Whites' opposition to affirmative act ion.