A study by psychologists at the University of California, Los Angeles, finds declining support for multiculturalism and diversity among White Americans at a time when the White percentage of the population is declining. Participants in the study were separated into two groups. One group was told that Whites will no longer be a majority of the population by 2050. Another group was told that White will maintain their majority status at least through 2050. They were then asked a series of questions on their views on diversity.
The results showed that the group who was told that Whites were losing their majority status were less likely to agree with statements that supported diversity and multiculturalism than the group who were told that Whites would remain a majority.
Yuen Huo, professor of psychology at UCLA and the senior author of the study stated that “Whites feel lukewarm about diversity when they are told they are about to lose their majority status in the United States for the first time.”
Felix Danbold, a doctoral student and lead author, added, “Most Americans view diversity in positive terms, but many White Americans who see the actual demographic projections, and the loss of their majority status, end up being less enthusiastic about it.”
The article, “No Longer ‘All American’? Whites’ Defensive Reactions to Their Numerical Decline,” was published on the website of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. It may be accessed here.
