Using Moral and Epistemological Reasoning as Predictors of Prejudice

Regression analyses indicated that a sample of American students who were humanitarian-egalitarian in their outlook, who possessed a high level of education, who were less supportive of the Protestant Ethic, and who employed a high percentage of relativism in their decision making were more likely to have positive attitudes toward minorities than those not possessing such attributes. Age proved to be a predictor of negative attitudes toward minorities. The findings help provide a rationale for further investigation of the relationship between moral and epistemological reasoning as well as for implementation of moral education programs as means to reduce negative racial attitudes.