The Relationship Between Stereotypes and Prejudice Toward The Africans in Italian University Students

Abstract

This research explored ethnic stereotypes, levels of blatant/subtle prejudice toward Africans and the relationships between these two dimensions in Italian university students with and without friends belonging to other ethnic groups. The ethnic traits and jobs choice (De Caroli & Sagone, 2007) and the Subtle and Blatant Prejudice Scale (Pettigrew & Meertens, 1995) were used. Results showed that most of the students attributed positive traits to the Africans and negative traits to the Italians, and assigned prestigious-intellectual jobs to the Italians and practical-manual jobs to the Africans. University students with both low levels of blatant prejudice and high levels of subtle prejudice (Subtles) assigned more prestigious-intellectual jobs to the Italians and practical-manual jobs to the Africans than the others (Equalitarians). Friendship affected prejudice and, partially, stereotypes.