Outgroup accusations often reveal the accuser’s own repressed faults

Evidence

Sometimes the nasty characteristics people attribute to outgroups are more revealing about the nature of the prejudiced perceivers than they are about the targets of their prejudice. As Allport (1954/1979) stated, “One may imagine qualities in a group and hate the group for them because one is in conflict over the same qualities in oneself ” (p. 200). And in the case of both anti-Semitism and anti-Black prejudice, “accusations and feelings of revulsion against both groups symbolize our dissatisfaction with the evil in our own nature” (p. 199). Allport provided some vivid illustrations of these ideas. In one, a gentile businessman uses shady tactics to force a Jewish competitor out of business, but feels justified – because after all, who is more unethical then the Jews? Another example, in the tradition of classic psychodynamic theorizing, focused on sexual motivation. A White man violates what to him is a taboo: he has had sex with a Black woman. Whatever agitation might be caused by that indiscretion, however, is overshadowed by his rage at “the lecherous Negro male” who “would deflower white womanhood” (p. 376). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2345

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clear statement of the psychodynamic model of projection as it applies to prejudice.