Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Article Title

Perceptions of Interracial Marriage Through the Eyes of Individualistic and Collectivist Cultures

Authors

Abstract

Recent increases in immigration and globalization show dramatically augmented numbers of interracial marriages, especially in the United States. This study examined the unique effects of ethnicity on attitudes towards interracial marriages, particularly those with a collectivist (Eastern) and individualistic (Western) cultural background. A combined sample of 171 Caucasian and Asian college students responded to the Interracial Marriage Attitude Measure (IMAM) to measure acceptance rates of interracial relationships. Findings suggest that race is an effective predictor of attitude, and Asians were significantly less favorable towards interracial marriages than Caucasians. The results supported our hypothesis that Asian collectivist societies feel more strongly about keeping to traditional ideas than American individualist societies. These findings may be useful to clinical and counseling psychologists in providing therapy to interracial couples.

Recommended Citation

(2015) "Perceptions of Interracial Marriage Through the Eyes of Individualistic and Collectivist Cultures," Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology: Vol. 10: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/intuition/vol10/iss2/6