Incorporating proximal and distal influences on prejudice: Testing a general model across outgroups

The present research integrates various social psychological approaches to understanding the causes of traditional prejudice. The authors examined (a) whether conceptually distinct variable sets shown previously to predict pr ejudice could be modeled collectively within a proximal-distal framework an d (b) whether different outgroups could be modeled collectively within this framework. The authors developed and tested a model that included four set s of explanatory factors derived from past research:Family Status, Contextu al Exposures, Beliefs, and Personality. It was hypothesized that the influe nce of these factors could be represented in a causal sequence such that (a ) the distal factors (i.e., Family Status and Contextual Exposures) would l ead to both proximal factors (i.e., Beliefs and Personality) and (b) the pr oximal factors would lead directly to Negative Attitudes Toward Outgroups. Structural equation analyses of data obtained from two independent samples generally supported the model-the impact of distal factors on prejudice was mediated largely by proximal factors.