The Influence of Historical Knowledge and Historical Context on Perceptions of Protest

Abstract

I conducted 3 studies to investigate knowledge of history and its influence on perceptions of protest for racial justice. In Study 1 (N = 286) I used a multiple regression design to explore potential individual difference predictors of non-violent and violent protest perceptions and protest engagement; specifically, I was interested in whether self-reported knowledge of history relates to support for protest and protest engagement. In Study 2 (N = 268), I used a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design to investigate whether perceptions of protest for racial justice differ for past versus present protests. Participants read a news article about either a non-violent or violent protest against police brutality and were told that the protest happened either in the past or in the present. Participants then reported their perceptions of the protest. Study 3 (N = 333) used a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design to explore whether exposure to critical history (marginalized group histories critical of United States’ treatment of people of color) compared to mainstream history influences participants’ views of violent and non-violent protest as well as their willingness to engage in these protests. Overall, the results from Study 1 revealed that self-reported knowledge of history relates to positive perceptions of non-violent protest. Results from Study 2 did not find evidence that when the protest occurred influences perceptions of the protest; however, non-violent protests were viewed more positively than violent protests. Meanwhile, results from Study 3 suggested that exposure to critical history leads to more positive perceptions of protest, a higher willingness to engage in protest, and social justice oriented behaviors.