Racial Discrimination, Pain, and the Buffering Influences of Acknowledgment
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Black young adults (aged 18-30; N = 92) were racially included (i.e., received the ball an equal number of times) or excluded (i.e., received the ball only once) by other White players in a ball-tossing computer game called Cyberball; White experimenters acknowledged the exclusion for half of the excluded participants. Participants completed a cold-pressor task twice to measure pain sensitivity (threshold, tolerance, and unpleasantness): immediately prior, and after the Cyberball (and acknowledgment) manipulation. Participants also completed a post-manipulation survey examining the psychological effects of racial exclusion and acknowledgment (i.e., psychological needs satisfaction, negative affect, control).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| No Intervention: Exclusion by White "Players" Excluded by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball). |
|
| No Intervention: Inclusion by White "Players" Included by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball). |
|
| Experimental: Exclusion by White "Players" with Bystander Acknowledgment Excluded by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball) with a White bystander acknowledging the exclusion. |
Other: Bystander Acknowledgment
The experimenter said "That is so messed up that they excluded you in the task. And honestly, I would say it was racist…" acknowledgment of the participants experience, "…this shouldn't have happened, and I'm really sorry it did…" an apology, and "…I'm going to talk to the primary investigators of the study to figure out how we can make sure that this won't happen to other people" a plan of action.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Pain Threshold measured with a cold pressor task [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to telling the experimenter they are experiencing pain.
- Pain Tolerance [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to when they remove their hand from the water.
- Pain unpleasantness [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Measured with a the McGill-Pain Questionnaire Short Form, the degree of unpleasantness the participant reports from the pain.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self Control subscale [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
- Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Belongingness subscale [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
- Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Meaningful Existence subscale [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
- Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self esteem subscale [Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).]
Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Participants identify as Black/African American
-
Age 18-30
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Past 30-day persistent pain
-
Cardiovascular or circulatory disorders
-
Diabetes
-
Current pregnancy
-
Open sores/frostbite on nondominant hand
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The George Washington University | Washington | District of Columbia | United States | 20052 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- George Washington University
- Psi Chi
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
- D.C. Psychological Association
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Additional Information:
Publications
None provided.- 224125