The Impact of Behavior Modeling Training on Self-Reports of White Supervisors in Two South African Mines

Abstract

The present study assessed whether behavior modeling training would improve the self-reports of white, first-line supervisors in relation to their black subordinates in two South African mines. Self-reports of behavior were elicited from 50 supervisors equally split into experimental and control groups. Controlling for retraining differences, the 25 supervisors trained in behavior modeling reported significantly greater improvements in supportive behaviors than the control group of 25 untrained supervisors, selected from the same departments at the two mines. Conversely, controlling for retraining scores, no differences were found for changes in abusive supervisory behavior The importance of adopting a broad, multimodal attitudinal and behavioral intervention approach to dealing with improving race relations is discussed.