When Roles Reverse: Stigma, Status, and Self-Evaluation'

Self-evaluations after interracial and dyadic interactions were examined. African American and White females interacted with either a sameor different-race partner in one of 3 role conditions: the high-status role o f an interviewer. the low-status role of an applicant. or a peer of equal status. Follouing the interaction. responses to the Collective SeltEsteem scale (Luhtanen & Crocker. 1992) assessed social self-evaluation. while the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (Rosenberg. 1965) and the State Self-Esteem scale (Heatherton & Polivy. 1991 ) assessed personal self-esteem. Combinations of racial composition and situational role had striking influences on self-evaluations. For instance, when situational roles signaled a reversal from societal status, participants reported lower collective self-esteem than uhen situational and societal status were consistent. Thus, roles can have compelling consequences for self-evaluation after intergroup interactions.