Abstract
Is support for free speech related to how students define harm related concepts like prejudice? The present research is focused on examining the relationship between College of Wooster students’ definitions of harm, as exemplified through the concept of prejudice, and their overall support for free speech. More specifically, I examined the correlation between how broadly students define the concept of prejudice and how likely they are to consider and value viewpoints different from their own. The methods used to demonstrate this relationship is the concept breadth scale derived from McGrath and Haslam (2020) and a hybrid free speech survey from various universities and a free speech non-profit. The survey was administered using Qualtrics and advertised through emails and the SONA system. The results revealed a negative association between concept breadth and students’ support for free speech. In addition, political affiliation mediated the association between concept creep and free speech. Political orientation was also negatively correlated with concept breadth. Overall, the present research provided an additional correlate with concept breadth––free speech––and verified that a relationship between concept breadth and free speech exists.
Advisor
Foster, Nathan
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Lasky, Dylynn M., "The Harm of 'Harm': An Examination of the Relationship Between Conceptions of Prejudice and Support for Free Speech" (2024). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11207.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11207
Disciplines
American Politics | Political Science | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology
Keywords
prejudice, concept creep, free speech
Publication Date
2024
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2024 Dylynn M. Lasky