Upbringing and Beliefs 2 Running head: UPBRINGING AND BELIEFS TOWARDS INTERRACIAL DATING The Effects of Upbringing on Beliefs and Attitudes toward Interracial Relationships

This study asks if experience with diversity growing up, the environment one grows up in, and the openness of one’s family affects their attitudes towards interracial dating. Participants (N= 27, 40.75 % female) were shown pictures of intra-racial and interracial couples and then rated the couples on four variables: attractiveness, happiness, satisfaction, and how long the couple will remain together. Interracial couples received lower ratings than the intra-racial couples and, contrary to previous research, white males paired with black females received the lowest ratings. The only variable from the participants ’ background that we found to have a significant effect on our participants ’ views was the father’s acceptance of interracial dating