Stereotypes possess heterogeneous directionality: a theoretical and empirical exploration of stereotype structure and content.

ABSTRACT: We advance a theory-driven approach to stereotype structure, informed by connectionist theories of cognition. Whereas traditional models define or tacitly assume that stereotypes possess inherently Group → Attribute activation directionality (e.g., Black activates criminal), our model predicts heterogeneous stereotype directionality. Alongside the classically studied Group → Attribute stereotypes, some stereotypes should be bidirectional (i.e., Group ⇄ Attribute) and others should have Attribute → Group unidirectionality (e.g., fashionable activates gay). We tested this prediction in several large-scale studies with human participants (NCombined = 4,817), assessing stereotypic inferences among various groups and attributes. Supporting predictions, we found heterogeneous directionality both

SUBMITTER: Cox WT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4374885 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature