Racial Threat Theory or Contact Hypothesis: A Survey Pilot Test

• In Event: Public Opinions on COVID-19 and the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

As the diversity of the U.S. continues to increase every year, two different criminological theories offer differing explanations for how this may affect levels of discrimination. The current study seeks to understand if the increasing percentage (or the perception thereof) of racial/ethnic or religious minority citizens in the U.S. will increase discrimination (i.e., racial threat theory) or if increasing interpersonal contact with racial/ethnic or religious minority citizens will decrease discrimination (i.e., the contact hypothesis). Additionally, the conceptual “fog” that has historically plagued research into racial threat theory will be discussed and explored in this study.

Authors

• Brooke Marston, University of Cincinnati

• Krysta Knox, University of Cincinnati

• Clay Driscoll, University of Cincinnati

• Ben Feldmeyer, University of Cincinnati