How does one react when an important in-group does not value another important identity? This question may be answered by role conflict theory. Role conflict occurs when one role interferes or otherwise overlaps with another role (Hecht, 2001). Both conflicting roles must be salient for role conflict to occur. The present research investigates the role conflict Blacks may experience between their racial identity and their identity as a business professional. We hypothesized that role conflict would produce increased stress as measured by blood pressure. Aspiring Black professionals in the present study were asked to give advice regarding self-presentation to a target interviewing at a conservative law firm. The target was either Black with dreadlocks (High Role Conflict: HRC) or White with multiple piercings (Low Role Conflict: LRC). Pre-testing revealed that neither target conformed to normative standards of business presentation. Blood pressure was assessed during the advice task as a measure of participants' stress responses. Afrocentricity as well as other potential moderators were also considered. Contrary to predictions, participants in the HRC condition exhibited lower blood pressure readings than participants in the LRC condition. This effect was marginally moderated by Afrocentrism. That is, also not consistent with predictions, the blood pressure of participants in the low conflict group increased as a function of Afrocentrism. Potential explanations of these effects are discussed / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_23834 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Contributors | Pruitt, Eden-Renee (Author), Ruscher, Janet B (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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