This paper places race relations theory within the general theory of human behavior which combines behaviorist psychology and Marxist theory. It argues for a revisionist theory of race relations where a situation or condition leads to a behavior pattern (discrimination) which in turn leads to an attitude (racism or prejudice). This conceptualization of institutional racism stresses social structure rather than internal or psychopathological expressions in human beings. The contention that discrimination and prejudice are rational acts and attitudes of psychologically normal persons is combined with Karl Marx's view of race relations as relations of conflict. At the group and at the individual level, behavior is rationally motivated by a strategy of maximizing reward and minimizing punishment. Understanding the foundation of race relations as the desire to maximize rewards and minimize punishment, the revisionists state that the basic race relations problem, and the basic conflict in the strategy of the majority group which makes their mini/max position dependent upon the continued exploitation of a minority group is the key to the elimination of racism in society. (Author/AM)