Prejudice matters: Understanding the reactions of Whites to affirmative action programs targeted to benefit Blacks

The authors examined, in 2 studies, the effects of equal employment opportu nity/affirmative action (EEO/AA) policies on Whites' job-related attitudes, First. in an experiment, White prospective job recruits, as expected. rate d a potential employer whose EEO/AA policies were framed as targeted to ben efit Blacks as less attractive than a potential employer whose EEO/AA polic ies were trained more generally. Second, the results of a field study showe d that prejudice against Black, moderated the relationship between Whites' perceptions that their organization's EEO/AA policies were targeted to bene fit Blacks and their satisfaction with promotion opportunities. Specificall y, among prejudiced Whites, this relationship was negative and considerable in size (r = -39, p < 01); whereas, among nonprejudiced Whites, it was neg ligible (r = -04. ns). The implication,. of our findings for the study of p rejudice in organizations are discussed.