Reactions of African American Students to the George Zimmerman Trial: Co-Rumination and Thought Intrusions as Mediators

ABSTRACT

We document how prior experiences with racism, sequentially mediated by co-rumination about racial problems with a friend and thought intrusions, are associated with negative reactions to a racially charged event—the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman and the subsequent trial and acquittal of Mr. Zimmerman. African Americans’ prior experiences with racial discrimination predicted more co-rumination about racial problems with a friend. In turn, co-rumination was associated with more thought intrusions about the trial, leading to more negative affect and less forgiveness for Zimmerman. Co-rumination about racism and worrisome thinking about high-profile race-related events may amplify concern about racism for a frequent target of racial discrimination, lowering the threshold for negative psychological reactions to racist acts (including acts of violence) that may happen to other African Americans or to oneself.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-rumination
• forgiveness
• George Zimmerman
• negative affect
• racial discrimination
• thought intrusions
• Trayvon Martin

Notes on contributors

Desideria (Desi) S. Hacker completed her M.S. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Georgia. Currently Dr. Hacker serves as the Assistant Dean for the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Norfolk State University. She is also the Associate Director of Clinical Training for the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Hacker’s research interests are in prevention and intervention related to African American’s health and well-being.

Jacqueline E. Haywood received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in social work from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in 2008. She continued at FAMU to receive her Masters of Science in Community Psychology in 2010. She is currently a fourth year doctoral student in clinical psychology with the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include negative outcomes from vicarious experiences of racial discrimination and protective factors for risky sexual behavior of African American college students.

Ralitsa S. Maduro is a fourth year student working in the Early Family Laboratory under Dr. James Paulson. She received her M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Old Dominion University in 2014. She received her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Francis Marion University in 2011. She received her B.A. in Psychology from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (magna cum laude) in 2007. Her research interests include parenting, parental involvement, harsh parenting and parental decision-making, and advanced statistical modeling.

Tyler B. Mason is a National Institute of Mental Health T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Psychological Science from Old Dominion University in 2015. He is interested in advanced statistical modeling of longitudinal and ecological momentary assessment data. His research interests span a variety of fields including psychology (i.e., health, social, and clinical), public health, and medicine. Specifically, he studies the cause, course, and treatment of eating disorders and obesity including the intersection of eating disorders and obesity.

Valerian J. Derlega is a Professor of Psychology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Maryland in 1971. Dr. Derlega’s research interests focus on how individuals cope with adverse life events. Recent studies have focused on the role of social support and individual difference variables affecting how one copes with an illness diagnosis (HIV and sickle cell disease) and the psychological consequences of being a direct and/or an indirect target of prejudice.

Scott B. Harrison received his B.S. from Salisbury State University. He completed his M.S. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Old Dominion University. Currently Dr. Harrison serves as the Associate Vice President for Administration in the Division of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services at Old Dominion University. His research interests include situational and environmental factors that contribute to college student success.

Thomas J. Socha is a Professor of Communication at Old Dominion University and Graduate Program Director of the MA in Lifespan & Digital Communication. He received his Ph. D. in Communication Studies from University of Iowa in 1988. His research interests include family communication, positive communication in relationships and groups across the lifespan, children’s positive communication development, and parent-child-societ al communication.