The Prejudice Reducing Properties of Social Category Combinations

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leeds
Department Name: Institute of Psychological Sciences

Abstract

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Description Previous work has established that inconsistency resolution reliant on executive resources underlies the combining of social categories when incongruent (e.g., 'female and mechanic', Hutter & Crisp; 2005; 2006; 2008). One possible outcome of this work is the potential harnessing of incongruent social category conjunctions as a means of reducing intergroup bias by redirecting attention away from the stereotypical constituent categories. That is, when encountering a 'female mechanic', the reduction in application of the stereotypical constituents (i.e. female and mechanic, Hutter & Crisp, 2008) might also be associated with bias reduction. While we did not find direct evidence for this we did observe the use of novel attributes (associated exclusively with the category conjunction and not the constituents) more often for incongruent than congruent conjunctions. Moreover application of these attributes was influenced by the degree to which the conjunction was viewed as an individual (individuation) and slower processors appeared to individuate more. This was found to be cognitively effortful, suggesting that when resolving conflicting thoughts associated with incongruent combinations, perceivers switch from categorization to effortful individuated thinking. Thinking of others using effortful individual features and focussing on social categories does lead to positive impressions. Crucially this only occurs when impressions are derived originally from category conjunctions that are congruent but not incongruent. Therefore care should be taken when using incongruent conjunctions as a means to reduce bias. The critical role of individuating information in incongruent conjunctions is now clearer, potentially contributing towards future measures of prejudice reduction.
Exploitation Route It would be interesting to expand on the findings in terms of applied applications. For example, how might social perceivers' respond to people sharing incongruent gender/occupation and race/occupation conjunctions?
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other
 
Description Mainly through journal publications to widen knowledge of how we perceive social category conjunctions.
First Year Of Impact 2013
Sector Other
Impact Types Societal