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Abstract
The purpose of this study is guided by the theory of social learning to examine how race can impact the portrayal of love in romantic movies. More specifically, this study aims to explore if there is a difference in patterns of relationship dynamics (healthy versus unhealthy) in romantic movies with white versus black main characters. Past research (e.g., Ward et al., 2023) indicates that in the media, African American women are often depicted as being one of three character types: the strong Black woman, the hypersexual Jezebel, or the aggressive Sapphire. This directly conflicts with the way White women are portrayed, as they are often displayed in a softer manner that is often associated with hyper-femininity, often aligning them with the ‘damsel in distress’ character trope. As a result of these portrayals, the type of social interactions and support shown to these characters differs, with many seeing the archetypes often associated with Black women as less feminine or friendly. Past research (e.g., Moss et al., 2022) also indicates that gender stereotypes about African American women in media can lead to an increased acceptance of intimate partner violence (IPV) towards Black women, as well as reduce sympathy for those who are victims as well. If people tend to align Black women with these stereotypes, they may begin to become more tolerant of their mistreatment and abuse, while becoming insensitive to their potential need for help. This study contributes to the literature by comparing the individual characteristics of main characters in romantic movies, as well as the type of romantic relationship that is depicted based on race. The hypothesis of the study was broken into two parts, with the first predicting that Black romance would depict the unhealthiest relationship dynamics, and the second predicting that White romance films would have an overall higher relationship score. The data collection method included an observation of 6 Black and White romantic films with similar plots, from children's, coming-of-age, and adult categories. The 6 films were selected based on a preliminary set of questions administered to college students, who identified the popular films they had watched. To analyze the films, the dynamics of the relationship were measured using a checklist, which consisted of the action part where the following were recorded: Types of relationship dynamics, such as unhealthy dynamics (e.g., infidelity, constant conflict), and the other analyzing healthy dynamics (e.g., mutual respect, healthy communication). The relationship score was calculated based on the following--Each characteristic that was fully present was given two points, whereas if it was only partially present, it was given one point, and zero points if not displayed at all. Scores on both the unhealthy and healthy checklists were added up, with 16 points being available for both categories. To calculate the couple's overall relationship score, the unhealthy score was subtracted from the healthy score. Using SPSS, a chi-square analysis was used to analyze results. The expectations were partially confirmed, as the difference in unhealthy and healthy dynamics between the two races was found to be insignificant. The difference in relationship scores, however, was found to be significant, with White relationships having higher relationship scores overall. Implications of the results for future studies include expanding the number of films viewed as well as studying the depiction of romance among interracial relationships, as well as different racial groups. Future studies can also explore how the depiction of romance can affect one's expectations of love. The results of this study can contribute to the field of psychology and society by communicating these results to ensure that the media assumes social responsibility in the light of the differences and introduces interventions that can help initiate positive change for couples and families who may base their behaviors on what they have seen in the media.