Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Miami University

News from a Social Psychology Perspective

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Should the Confederate Flag Continue to Fly Over the Capitol of South Carolina?  Identity and Intergroup Conflict -- January, 2000. Analysis by Megan Bitsoff, Ashley Dickerson, Jennifer Schmit, & Brent Scott

    The Confederate flag currently flies above the capitol of South Carolina. Supporters say that it is a symbol of their heritage, but opponents argue that it signifies slavery and racism. A meeting was held by the Chamber of Commerce to discuss alternative flags. The state was the first to secede from the union in 1861. Some feel that it is still living in the past by being consumed by unresolved issues between blacks and whites. No one seems to mention the other ethnicities that have come to the state. The debate surrounding the flying of the flag tarnishes the image of the state and does not reflect what it has become. The state has transformed itself economically in the past ten years. The NAACP announced a national boycott on the states tourism industry last year.

    Psychologically this flying of the flag has brought up some issues such as groupthink and intergroup bias.

    Is all this really about a flag or is it about something more?

*Click Here for The Team's Final Analysis *

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Social Psychology / Miami University (Ohio USA). Last revised: . This document has been accessed   times since 2 February, 2000.  Comments & Questions to R. Sherman

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