Cj. Block et Rt. Carter, WHITE RACIAL IDENTITY ATTITUDE THEORIES - A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME ISSTILL A ROSE, The Counseling psychologist, 24(2), 1996, pp. 326-334
The purpose of this article is to examine the White racial consciousne
ss model (Rowe, Bennett, & Atkinson, 1994), which has been proposed as
a superior conceptualization for understanding White racial attitudes
than existing frameworks, specifically Helms's (1990) theory of White
racial identity attitudes. Rowe et al. (1994) have argued for the sup
eriority of the White racial consciousness model because it can ''desc
ribe the phenomena more accurately, predict relationships better and p
rovide a more stable bare for assessment'' (p. 133) than Helms's White
racial identity attitude theory. This article raises questions as to
the validity of these claims. The White racial consciousness model is
examined in terms of its similarities and differences to Helms's White
racial identity attitude theory,focusing on the two theories in relat
ion to their definition of core constructs, theoretical basis, and the
existing empirical evidence.