Why Do We Talk About Race? Examining Goals in Discussions About Race in Interracial Friendships.

Shared goals are a pillar of effective intergroup contact, yet little research has examined the specific goals that motivate people to engage in intergroup discussions. Across two studies, we assessed the goals of Latine (Study 1) and Black (Study 2) participants, compared to White (Studies 1 and 2) participants, during race-related discussions with a racial ingroup or outgroup friend. Participants from all three racial groups expressed a greater desire to socially connect with racially minoritized versus White friends. White participants' goals to learn and express egalitarian values were higher in discussions about race with Latine and Black, versus White, friends. By contrast, White participants expressed a lower desire to challenge their friends and manage their group image relative to Latine and Black participants. Participants' primary conversation goals were to socially connect and learn; however, White participants' goals shifted more depending on whether they were speaking to a racial ingroup or outgroup friend.