Social Psychology 4 - Category Inhibition Flashcards
What techniques can we use to control/inhibit the activation of categorical thinking?
If people are aware of the potential for stereotypic biases in judgements can regulate these.
What are the two cognitive processes involved in Wegners model of thought suppression (1994)
- Monitoring process: scans environment (automatic, requiring few cognitive resources)
- Operating process: directs attention away from unwanted thought which is replaced with a suitable distractor (cognitively demanding, can be difficult)
What is the ‘ironic effect of thought suppression’
When we try to avoid certain thoughts, they may become hyperaccessible.
(i. e. it may increase their activation)
* It may produce stronger unwanted thinking than would otherwise have occurred*
When people are instructed to suppress stereotypic thoughts of a person, what happens this inhibitory period is over? (Macrae et al. (1994))
The contents of the stereotype become hyperaccessible in memory.
They are significantly more likely to display a recollective preference for stereotype-consistent material
Stereotype inhibition can have rebound effects
What is the stereotype rebound effect?
That when you try to inhibit a stereotype it may become hyperaccessible afterwards and you may recall more stereotype-consistent material.
What was the results of Macrae et al. (1994) where they asked one group to describe the life events of a skinhead while being allowed to use stereotypes, and the other group was not allowed to use stereotypes, then afterwards they did it again but without any restrictions?
Those who were told to suppress the stereotype was most stereotypic in their description than the group which was allowed to stereotype.
A clear demonstration of rebound effect after a period of suppression.
Macrae’s experiment two wanted to see if the stereotype rebound effect can be generalised to behaviour.
They put skinheads belongings on a chair and participants entered the room and had to take a seat, experimentors measured how far away they sat from the skinheads belongings (social distance measure)
What were the results for stereotype suppressors vs non-stereotype suppressors?
What were the conclusions?
Stereotype suppressors sat further away from the ‘skinheads’ chair than non-suppressors
The thought suppression generated rebounded thoughts can affect perceivers actual behaviour towards a stereotyped target.
What were criticisms of Macrae’s ‘rebound’ studies?
- It utilised stereotypes that people are not highly motivated to avoid.
- What happens if stereotype suppression occurs for groups which there are strong social norms against stereotyping (e.g. women, african-americans, gays)
What did the Monteith et al. (1998) follow up rebound study (from Macrae’s) find regarding prejudice towards gay people?
People with low levels of prejudice towards gay people wre not susceptible to rebound effects following a period of suppression.
People with high levels of prejudice towards gays were susceptible to rebound effects
(gay stereotype became hyperaccessible for this group)
What is the overall conclusions that have been found in regards to the “stereotype rebound effect”?
Findings are inconsistent for highly sensitive social groups
What factors may likely affect whether stereotypes can be effectively suppressed?
- Motivation of perceivers to avoid prejudice
- Extent to which they have practiced stereotype suppression
How and when does spontaneous stereotype suppression occur?
1. Self-regulation: occurs when a perceiver experiences a discrepancy between internalised standards and actual behaviour
e.g When people are committed to egalitarian norms and their behaviour violates this, they experience guilt, and will make direct efforts at reducing this discrepancy
2. Heightened self-focus (self-directed attention): Sufficient to spontaneously suppress unwanted stereotypic thoughts
When the self becomes the focus, people are more likely to behave in ways that are consistent with internalised standards or norms. Stereotype suppression can occur without conscious intention if it is consistent with peoples internalised beliefs and values.
Why is self-regulation important?
It is a very normal trait and we self-regulate all the time.
People who fail to self-regulate have emotional problems (e.g. depression, anxiety disorder). Self-regulation is important for us to live in a stable society.
There are cues that reliably trigger stereotype suppression in the environment.
What are they?
Any cue that makes salient social normals (personal or societal) against stereotyping.
- Task context
- Presence of others
- Current information processing goals
What is the take home message regarding stereotyping and stereotype suppression
