Smith ScholarWorks Theses, Dissertations, and Projects 2013 An investigation of racism and its emotional cost : how mindfulness and perceptions of control shape role-related beliefs and behavior Trina M. Zahller Smith College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Zahller, Trina M., "An investigation of racism and its emotional cost : how mindfulness and perceptions of control shape role-related beliefs and behavior" (2013). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/958 This Masters Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations, and Projects by an authorized administrator of Smith ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Trina Zahller An Investigation of Racism and its Emotional Costs: How Mindfulness and Perceptions of Control Shape Race-Related Beliefs and Behavior ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to explore potential correlations between mindfulness and racism among White meditation practitioners. The secondary purpose was to investigate how locus of control may moderate those correlations. This research was carried out with the goal of identifying ways in which anti-racism programs could be more effective, the role mindfulness might play in future anti-racism programming, and how cultural messages about control might shape relationships between mindfulness and racism. Variations among style and degree of mindfulness practice were also assessed. Participants filled out an online survey that included scales to assess their self-reported racial animosity, emotional responses to racism, trait mindfulness, and locus of control. Results showed that among the 138 participants, people with higher trait mindfulness scored lower on White Guilt and higher on two of the four racial animosity sub-scales.