Abstract
In two studies, we investigated the process and consequences of stereotype suppression. In Study 1, participants formed impressions of a target, via an audio-taped self-description, while simultaneously responding to a randomly presented probe stimulus (i.e., probe reaction task). While performing the impression-formation task, some participants were instructed to inhibit their stereotypes about the target's social group; others were given no such instruction. The results demonstrated: (i) that stereotype suppression is an effortful, resource-demanding mental process; and (ii) that stereotype suppression ironically reduces attentional resources available for processing target-related information. Study 2 replicated the finding that stereotype suppressors had impaired memory for nonstereotypic individuating information and revealed another ironic consequence of mental control. Specifically, following a period of stereotype suppression, participants demonstrated enhanced recall for the formerly unwanted stereotypic material.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Social Cognition |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1996 |
Keywords
- thought suppression
- information
- attention
- components
- consciousness
- automaticity
- heuristics
- prejudice
- demands
- impact