Personality factors predict racial prejudice

We examined the extent to which prejudice toward Asians and Australian Aborigines is determined by the personality factors right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), social dominance orientation (SDO) and group identity factors under conditions of either personal (N=87) or national identity (N=87) salience. The results showed that the personality measures best predicted both forms of prejudice under both conditions of the experiment, contrary to predictions. Important differences were noted with respect to the influence of RWA and SDO on prejudice when national identity was salient. These results are discussed with reference to the critical role that personality plays in explaining racial prejudice.