Prejudice, Socio-Economic Status, and Public Attitudes toward Riots and Demonstrations

Abstract

This is a report of a recent survey in Boulder, Colorado, a Colorado University community where Negroes constitute a small proportion of the total population. Perceptions of threat, causes, and treatment of racial riots and demonstrations were studied in relation to sociological and psychological variables. Results indicated that socio-economic status and certain prejudice measures were powerful predictors of perceptions concerning race riots and demonstrations. High socio-economic status was associated with more tolerant attitudes toward both types of disturbances, while high prejudice was associated with more intolerant attitudes.