Re-conceptualizing behaviors during interracial interactions as coping reactions to stressful encounters

Behavior during interracial contact is sometimes positive but often negative. Previous work has examined individual differences, such as racial attitudes and motivations to respond without prejudice, as predictors of behavior during interracial contact. However, the results of this work are equivocal. In an effort to shed light on these results, the present work proposes that the stress associated with interracial contact is a proximal, and therefore useful, predictor of behavior during interracial contact. In other words, behavior during interracial contact can be understood as coping reactions---via engagement, antagonism, avoidance, and/or freezing---to stressful encounters. In 3 studies, White participants interacted with a White or Black research confederate (Study 1) or naive interaction partner (Studies 2 and 3). Their interactions were videotaped and their nonverbal behaviors were coded. In addition, Study 2 examined the interaction outcomes for participants and their interaction partner as a function of participants' nonverbal behavior; and, Study 3 considered the neural correlates associated with these behaviors. Consistent with predictions, participants were more stressed during interracial, compared with same-race, contact. Accordingly, they were more avoidant, antagonizing, and frozen during interracial interactions, but more engaged during same-race interactions. Generally, engagement led to positive interaction outcomes whereas avoidance, antagonism, and freezing led to negative interaction outcomes. Finally, participants' neural activity in response to Black, compared with White, faces predicted their stress responses during an actual interracial interaction; however, it did not predict their coping reactions. In sum, the data generally support a stress and coping framework for the behavioral dynamics of interracial interactions. This framework provides a new organization of the literature on intergroup contact and suggests ways for improving interracial interactions.