Dilemmas Over Racial Integration: Status Consciousness vs. Direct Threat*

In examining some reasons white liberals express attitudinal ambivalence, role conflicts, or unfavorableness toward racial integration, we tested two alternative hypotheses, a direct threat thesis and a status consciousness thesis. Further, we examined the degree of interrelatedness of several status dimensions. We found support for the second hypothesis and suggest further research into relationships between status consciousness and ambivalence toward racial integration.