How Beliefs Affect Relationship Formation

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dc.contributor.advisorWiseheart, Melody
dc.contributor.authorBasurto, Vanessa Kailyn
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-10T10:44:28Z
dc.date.available2025-04-10T10:44:28Z
dc.date.copyright2024-09-27
dc.date.issued2025-04-10
dc.date.updated2025-04-10T10:44:28Z
dc.degree.disciplinePsychology (Functional Area: Developmental Science)
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMA - Master of Arts
dc.description.abstractPast research has investigated racial implicit biases in the context of short-term relationships, such as strangers. However, implicit biases have not been studied in the context of longer-term relationships. The present study explores ways in which implicit biases may impact integral aspects of relationship formation: relationship stressors and supports, and friendship group diversity. Additionally, trait personality was examined as a potential contributor towards implicit bias and friendship diversity. Agreeableness and openness were chosen as the main personality traits of focus due to their involvement in explicit prejudice. Three types of relationships were assessed to explore whether effects differ based on closeness: family, friends, and acquaintances. People with whom we have closer relationships are also more likely to share social categories with us, which would mitigate the effects of implicit biases. Implicit biases were assessed using a race Implicit Association Test (IAT) which incorporated 24 different skin shades to represent a diverse racial spectrum. Relationship stressors and supports were assessed using the Wiseheart Socioeconomic Scale. Personality was assessed using the HEXACO-PI-R. We found weak, and statistically nonsignificant, correlations for all variables, suggesting that close relationships may not be impacted by implicit biases, regardless of the closeness of the relationship. Personality also does not appear to be related to implicit bias. The findings suggest that implicit biases may not be involved in longer-term relationships, and may have different contributing factors than explicit biases. The results and limitations from this study demonstrate the need for future research in the study of implicit bias.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42768
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subject.keywordsImplicit bias
dc.subject.keywordsBias
dc.subject.keywordsRelationships
dc.subject.keywordsPersonality
dc.subject.keywordsSocial psychology
dc.subject.keywordsSocial interactions
dc.subject.keywordsClose others
dc.titleHow Beliefs Affect Relationship Formation
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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