Perceiving pervasive discrimination among African Americans: Implications for group identification and well-being

The processes involved in well-being maintenance among African Americans wh o differed in their attributions to prejudice were examined. A rejection-id entification model was proposed where stable attributions to prejudice repr esent rejection by the dominant group. This results in a direct and negativ e effect on well-being. The model also predicts a positive effect on well-b eing that is mediated by minority group identification. In other words, the generally negative consequences of perceiving oneself as a victim of racia l prejudice can be somewhat alleviated by identification with the minority group. Structural equation analyses provided support for the model and rule d out alternative theoretical possibilities. Perceiving prejudice as pervas ive produces effects on well-being that are fundamentally different from th ose that may arise from an unstable attribution to prejudice for a single n egative outcome.