Study Finds Anti-semitism, Anti-negroism Uncorrelated Attitudes

Individuals prejudiced against Negroes do not necessarily dislike Jews, according to a new study reported here today.

The analysis of anti-Semitic and anti-Negro attitudes was reported to the American Psychological Association. The study was made under direction of Dr. Peter T, Pompilo of the Seton Psychiatric Institute of Baltimore, Md.

Dr. Pompilo’s findings tended to support a notion of different and relatively independent forms of prejudice. The concept of the authoritarian personality, prejudiced against Jews and Negroes alike, was not supported. Results indicated that anti-Semitism and anti-Negroism are independent and separate attitudes, not overlapping in a significant number of cases.

The analysis suggested that “anti-Negroism and anti-Semitism do not reflect an underlying, generalized prejudicial attitude. ” That they are independent prejudices was indicated by a low correlation discovered in prejudicial attitudes,

The conclusion stated by Dr. Pompilo was that “in general the results do not suggest a general factor of prejudice, but do support the idea that anti-Negroism and anti-Semitism are independent variables reflecting different attitudes toward these two groups. As a matter of fact, three sets of attitudes toward the two minority groups under investigation are suggested from this research. “

He listed these three attitudes as “factor A, representing people who are clearly and only anti-Negro; factor C, representing people who are clearly and only anti-Semitic; and factor B, representing people who are prejudiced toward both groups indiscriminately. “

Dr. Pompilo described the study as tentative and indicated that more extensive research is necessary before definite, final conclusions may be drawn. The group used for the study included white, non-Jewish volunteer subjects from an above-average educational and socio-economic level.