Reducing automatic stereotype activation: Mechanisms and moderators of situational attribution training

摘要: Individuals tend to underestimate situational causes and overly rely on trait in explaining negative behaviors of outgroup members, a tendency named the ultimate attribution error (Pettigrew, 1979). This attributional pattern is directly related stereotyping, because attributing internal, stable tends perpetuate stereotypes members. Recent research implicit bias reduction revealed that circumventing individuals’ engage led reduced stereotyping. More specifically, training White participants consider factors determining Blacks’ stereotypic decreased automatic stereotype activation. technique was Situational Attribution Training (Stewart, Latu, Kawakami, & Myers, 2010). In current studies, I investigated mechanisms moderators Training. Study 1, effect spontaneous inferences. Findings did not increase inferences: both control showed evidence 2, whether correcting inferences by taking into account has become after training. addition, explicit prejudice, motivations cognitive complexity variables (need for cognition, personal need structure) were as success. These findings works best individuals high under conditions no load, but load. increased modern racism, regardless their Possible explanations these discussed, including methodological limitations theoretical implications. INDEX WORDS: Stereotyping, Stereotype reduction, Automaticity, Individual differences REDUCING AUTOMATIC STEREOTYPE ACTIVATION: MECHANISMS AND MODERATORS OF SITUATIONAL ATTRIBUTION TRAINING