Responses to other-imposed pro-black pressure: Acceptance or backlash?

Although previous work suggests that exposure to other-imposed pressure to respond favorably toward Black people may reduce at least overt expressions of prejudice, the consequences of such pressure beyond initial compliance has not been explored. Across three studies, we examined the implications o f complying with pro-Black pressure for people's affective, attitudinal, an d behavioral responses as a function of their source of motivation to respo nd without prejudice. The findings indicate that those who are primarily ex ternally motivated to respond without prejudice (low internal, high externa l motivation) feel constrained and bothered by politically correct pressure (Study 1). In addition, whether the pressure was imagined (Study 1 and 2) or real (Study 3), these participants responded with angry/threatened affec t when pressured to comply with other-imposed pro-Black pressure. Finally, these affective responses resulted in backlash (both attitudinal and behavi oral) among the low internal, high external participants, presumably in an attempt to reassert their personal freedom. (C) 2001 Academic Press.