Harris and Fiske Study (socio, bio)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To observe the reactivity of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala to “extreme out-groups” (low warmth/low competence) to see the biological correlates of a “contemptuous stereotype” in comparison to objects

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Approx 20 Princeton university undergraduate
• Randomly allocated to two conditions - half seeing images of people and half seeing images of objects
• Practice; participants used a computer to practice rating a series of neutral photos for each of four emotions: pride, envy, pity, disgust
• Participants were shown six sets of ten photographs (included people with disabilities, rich businessman, elderly, olympic athletes, and homeless people) in fMRI
• Participants were shown a response screen after each image ad then, using a joystick, were asked to choose which of the our emotions that they felt toward the image that was just displayed

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• Participants in “objects” group did not show any activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)
• Difference in brain activity when participants rated pictures of addicts or homeless people; in addition to activation of the amygdala, their brains set off a series of reactions associated with disgust (insula was activated, which is usually a response to non-human objects such as garbade and human waste)
• Part of the brain that is activated when we think about other people - the medial prefrontal cortex -was not activated (in the case of the homeless, their brains did not react to them as people)
• Perceptions of a threat to the in-group’s resources as well as the out-group member’s status may play a role in our perception of the out-group and how our brain reacts
• Appears that our brain categorizes people ad responds differently, depending on their group

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

• Shows the SIT may be reduced
• fMRI reduces participant bias (participants cannot control their brain activity)

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

• Difficult to determine whether responses was innate or learned
• Small, biased sample (no homeless included)

Question 6

Ethical Considerations

Answer 6

• Protection from harm (use of fMRI would need to inform participants of the enclosed space)

Question 7

Research Method

Answer 7

Experiment