White rewarding behavior as a function of the potential for black retaliation

Provided 40 white male undergraduates with an opportunity to deliver monetary reward and shock duration to a black or white target under varying conditions of potential retaliation. Prior to statistical treatment, 2 orthogonal variates, direct reward and indirect aggression, were identified. In line with predictions, a higher level of direct reward was delivered to black targets under conditions favoring opportunity for retaliation than under conditions minimizing such opportunity. No differential responding was exhibited toward white targets as a function of the same situational conditions. Also as expected, a relatively high level of indirect aggression was administered to black targets under retaliation conditions. Results are discussed in terms of previous research on potential for black reprisal and white aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).