Americans internalize contradictory pro- and anti-prejudice norms simultaneously.

Evidence

Thus, cultural norms provide no easy answers to questions such as how White and Black Americans should treat each other, or whether race and cultural differences ought to be respected or derided. Allport (1954/1979) wrote, “Anti-attitudes alternate with pro-attitudes. Often the see-saw and zig-zag are almost painful to follow … such inconsistency is bewildering … it must be awkward to live with” (pp. 326–7). Because people are forced to follow a contradictory set of internalized rules about how to think, feel, and behave, it can be difficult for people to know what to do. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1904

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to ambivalent/aversive racism threads (Gaertner & Dovidio) and the norm-conflict framing of modern prejudice.