The Reflected Appraisal Process in Black Americans

Abstract

The present study investigated the association between self-esteem and private and public regard among Black American-born individuals. Participants (N = 21) completed subscales of the Collective Self-Esteem Scale to assess how they feel about the racial group that they belong to, how they perceive American-born White individuals feel about their racial group (i.e., White public regard), and how they perceive other Black individuals feel about their racial group (i.e., Black public regard). They also completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to assess how they feel about themselves as an individual and answered demographic questions. Consistent with past research, we hypothesized that participants would demonstrate a positive association between perceived evaluations of their group from both Black and White individuals with their self-esteem. Also consistent with past research, we hypothesized a positive association between Black public regard and private regard. However, for White public regard and private regard, we would expect no association based on past research, or a positive association if Black individuals no longer separate public regard from private regard due to changes in Black representation in the world today and modern social movements. The results found support for reflected appraisal processes only from other Black individuals (i.e., Black public regard) and not from White individuals.