Occupational Mobility and Attitudes Toward Negroes

Two models of the relationship between occupational mobility and attitudes toward Negroes are examined: (1) an additive model which implies that individuals form their attitudes by striking an average between the views appropriate to their class of origin and those appropriate to their class of destination; and (2) an interaction model according to which occupational mobility creates abnormal strain which is manifested in greater hostility toward Negroes than would be expected from additive effects alone. To assess the two models, previous empirical materials are reviewed and new data from a representative national sample of the adult white population of the U.S. are analyzed using a dummy variable multiple regression procedure. Strong support is found for the additive model, and little or no support for the interaction model.