Meaning and Automatic Stereotyping: Advancing an Agenda for Research

Research on automatic stereotyping is dominated by the idea that automatic stereotyping reflects the activation of (group–trait) associations. In two preregistered experiments (total N = 391), we tested predictions derived from an alternative perspective that suggests that automatic stereotyping is the result of the activation of propositional representations that, unlike associations, can encode relational information and have truth values. Experiment 1 found that automatic stereotyping is sensitive to the validity of information about pairs of traits and groups. Experiment 2 showed that automatic stereotyping is sensitive to the specific relations (e.g., whether a particular group is more or less friendly than a reference person) between pairs of traits and groups. Interestingly, both experiments found a weaker influence of validity/relational information on automatic stereotyping than on non-automatic stereotyping. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on automatic stereotyping.

Download Full-text

Formation of Stereotypes

Behavioural Sciences Undergraduate Journal ◽

10.29173/bsuj307 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 67-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jillian Gilmour

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Processing ◽

Temporal Cortex ◽

Global Scale ◽

Cognitive Tools ◽

Current Review ◽

Diary Studies ◽

Automatic Stereotyping ◽

Future Work ◽

Rapid Activation

The author of this paper explores the implications of automatic stereotyping in relation to social cognition drawing from the pre-existing literature. The current review is focused on how stereotypes are constructed, activated, maintained, and what cognitive tools are needed in order to change them. The construction of stereotypes is looked at in respect to the stereotype validity model, facial features, the mass media, and the influence society has on perpetuating stereotypes on a global scale. The neural correlates involved in the activation of stereotypes are discussed, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate, and anterior temporal cortex. The current review also includes ways in which cognitive processing can be slowed down to prevent the perpetuation of negative prejudices. Based on the review, future work is still required in the areas of longitudinal and diary studies that look into the long term consequences of the rapid activation and application of stereotypes.

Download Full-text

Automatic Stereotyping: Category, Trait, and Behavioral Activations

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0146167202281001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 3-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Kerry Kawakami ◽

Heather Young ◽

John F. Dovidio

Keyword(s):

Automatic Stereotyping

Download Full-text

Automatic Stereotyping

Psychological Science ◽

10.1111/j.1467-9280.1996.tb00346.x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 136-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 306

Author(s):

Mahzarin R. Banaji ◽

Curtis D. Hardin

Keyword(s):

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Stimulus Onset ◽

Judgment Task ◽

Prime Type ◽

Language Reform ◽

Gender Beliefs ◽

Gender Information ◽

Automatic Stereotyping ◽

Prime Target

Two experiments tested a form of automatic stereo-typing Subjects saw primes related to gender (e g, mother, father, nurse, doctor) or neutral with respect to gender (e g, parent, student, person) followed by target pronouns (stimulus onset asynchronv = 300 ms) that were gender related (e g, she, he) or neutral (it, me) or followed by nonpronouns (do, all, Experiment 2 only) In Experiment 1, subjects judged whether each pronoun was male or female Automatic gender beliefs (stereotypes) were observed in faster responses to pronouns consistent than inconsistent with the gender component of the prime regardless of subjects' awareness of the prime-target relation, and independently of subjects explicit beliefs about gender stereotypes and language reform In Experiment 2, automatic stereotyping was obtained even though a gender-irrelevant judgment task (pronoun/not pronoun) was used Together, these experiments demonstrate that gender information imparted by words can automatically influence judgment, although the strength of such effects may be moderated by judgment task and prime type

Download Full-text