Unsafe Spaces As Spatial and Psychological Constructs: Implications on Racial Aggression

Background and Purpose: A limited number of studies has explored the spatial and psychological aspects of unsafe spaces as relates to racial aggression.  There is very limited research evidence, however, on how the psychological aspects of unsafe spaces relate to the spatial aspects, and how they may be reinforced by each other.  While research has explored the relationships between racial aggression and sense of safety, there is largely a lack of research on the nature of the feedback between the spatial aspects of the phenomenon and the psychological aspects thereof, and how those are related to victims’ sense of safety.  

This paper helps to fill this gap by exploring the retrospective accounts of adults who have been victims of racial aggression, and who have been exposed to spatial cues related to racial aggression. Additionally, based on their own experiences, participants offer suggestions regarding the best ways to address racial aggression in ways that considers the psychological and spatial aspects of racial aggression. 

Methods: Twenty-three in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults (ages 20 to 73) who self-reported to have experienced both psychological and spatial aggression based on race).  The sample is predominantly female (79% female; 21% male), Black or African American (63% Black; 15% Caucasian, 6% Asian, 5% Hispanic/Latino; 7% Bi-racial; 4% Native American), and middle/middle-upper class (84% had at least a college degree).  Participants were recruited via posted fliers and an email sent through the researcher.  Interviews elicited participants’ narratives, including how participants experienced racial aggression, spatial aggression related to racial aggression, and their views on spatial and psychological racial aggression relate. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically (using NVivo software), in compliance with the principles of grounded theory and the inductive approach to data analysis.

Findings: Data analysis reveals that many of the participants had experienced both spatial and psychological racial aggression. Participants associated certain spatial considerations with psychological aspects of racial aggression.  Some participants even described witnessing both spatial and psychological aggression at similar times.  Participants reported that racial aggression related to space can also be associated with those at the psychological domain. Participants note varying levels of racial aggression victimization.  Findings suggest that the inter-linkages between spatial and psychological racial aggression can be identified as both stand-along and interrelated constructs. Findings also indicated that spatial racial aggression exacerbated the stigma and experiences of psychological racial aggression.  Participants suggested that policy makers should be attentive to the special features of both the transient and static spaces with regards to their racial connotations. 

Conclusion and Implications: Findings highlight the importance of intentional spatial and psychological checks against racial aggression, given their impacts on victim’s health and social well being. By providing preventive support and education to the public as they learn about the interrelationships between the physical space and the emotional space, and racial aggression, social workers can help society to better understand the importance of prevention of racial tensions, rhetoric, and violence prevention.