Why personal values matter: values, colorblindness, and social justice action orientation
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Why personal values matter: values, colorblindness, and social justice action orientation Meredith V. Tittler 1
&
Daniel G. Lannin 2 & Suejung Han 2 & Lukas J. Wolf 3
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract The extent to which individuals prioritize different personal values may be conceptually linked to endorsement of racial colorblindness beliefs as well as orientation toward social justice. The present study examined how personal values predicted racial colorblindness and social justice action orientation in a sample of undergraduates (N = 325; Age, M = 20.38, SD = 2.78). Results supported the hypotheses: Self-transcendence and openness to change values predicted higher social justice action orientation, mediated by lower colorblindness beliefs, whereas self-enhancement and conservation values predicted lower social justice action orientation, mediated by higher colorblindness beliefs. Hence, motives that emphasize others’ well-being and openness to change may be linked to less racial colorblindness and a greater willingness to address social inequalities. To encourage social justice efforts, institutions and social networks may benefit from considering implicit and explicit messages that promote the well-being of others and the value of openness as opposed to values that prioritize individual status and prestige and maintaining the status quo. Keywords Values . Colorblindness . Social justice . Self-transcendence . Conservation
N Social justice can be conceptualized as a belief in and promotion of egalitarianism, wherein resources, rights, and opportunities are fairly and equitably allocated in a manner that recognizes the marginalization of certain groups due to race, ethnicity, age, physical disability, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, socioeconomic status, religion, or education level (cf. Constantine, Hage, Kindaichi, & Bryant, 2007; Cook, 1990; Fouad, Gerstein, & Toporek, 2006; Ivey & Collins, 2003; Prilleltensky, 2001; Torres-Harding, Siers, & Olson, 2012). Efforts to promote social justice aim to affect societal change so that every member of a society enjoys similar levels of benefits, opportunities, and human rights (Tourse, Hamilton-Mason, & Wewiorski, 2018). Social justice has become a more central agenda inside and outside the field of
* Meredith V. Tittler [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, 1347 Lagomarcino Hall, Ames, IA 50011-3180, USA
2
Department of Psychology, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA
3
Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, UK
psychology, with training curriculums showing an increased focus on multicultural training and social justice content (Paluck, 2006; Pieterse, Evans, Risner-Butner, Collins, & Mason, 2009). There have been calls for increased research to understand the antecedents of social justice work as well as ways to promote the development of social justice orientation in individuals (e.g. Speight & Vera, 2008; Fietzer & Ponterotto, 2015). More re
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