Perceived Zero-Sum Competition Between Asian Americans and Black Americans

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Intergroup Relations
• Racial Perceptions

Background:

• The 2023 Supreme Court affirmative action decisions highlighted tensions between Asian and Black Americans.
• A perception of "zero-sum" competition exists, where gains for one group are seen as losses for another.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent to which Asian, Black, and White Americans perceive a zero-sum competition between Asian and Black individuals.
• To examine how these zero-sum beliefs influence intergroup attitudes and support.

Main Methods:

• Three studies were conducted with 1,475 online participants from CloudResearch.
• Participants included Asian, Black, and White Americans who responded to surveys assessing zero-sum perceptions and intergroup attitudes.

Main Results:

• Asian and White participants were more likely than Black participants to believe Asian Americans were losing ground to Black Americans.
• Participants perceived Asian Americans as experiencing greater losses relative to White Americans than to Black Americans.
• Asian Americans viewing Asian-Black relations as zero-sum showed less support for Black people and perceived less support from them.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals differential perceptions of zero-sum competition between Asian and Black Americans across racial groups.
• Belief in Asian-White competition, conversely, was linked to increased pro-Black sentiments among Asian Americans.
• Findings underscore the complexity of intergroup dynamics and the impact of perceived competition on racial attitudes.