Beliefs That White People Are Poor, Above and Beyond Beliefs That Black People Are Poor, Predict White (But Not Black) Americans' Attitudes Toward Welfare Recipients and Policy.

This article investigates how White Americans' beliefs about poverty among White people ("White-poor beliefs") uniquely influence their perceptions of welfare recipients and support for welfare policies, distinct from beliefs about Black poverty ("Black-poor beliefs"). Across three studies with large, representative U.S. samples, findings show that White-poor beliefs predict greater humanization of welfare recipients—measured by perceived agency and work ethic—and increased welfare support, but only among White Americans, particularly those endorsing racial zero-sum beliefs (the idea that racial gains for minorities come at the expense of Whites). Experimental evidence further confirms that making White poverty salient increases welfare support through enhanced humanization among White Americans high in racial zero-sum beliefs. These results suggest that White-poor beliefs may function to justify welfare policies perceived as benefiting the White ingroup, thereby maintaining the existing racial hierarchy. The research highlights the importance of considering both White- and Black-poor beliefs in understanding racialized attitudes toward welfare in the United States.