Being the Target of Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Psy 321: Dr. Sanchez Guest Lecturer: Corinne Moss-Racusin

Big Question
How do stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination affect their targets?
Is there an impact on their behavior? Should discrimination be confronted?

Todays Topics
How do stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination affect their targets?
Is there an impact on their performance?
1. Stereotype Threat 2. Fear of BacklashWomens Self-Promotion

Should discrimination be confronted?

3. Confronting and reducing prejudice

The Impact of Stereotypes on Group Members Performance

What are some stereotypes about things that members of certain groups are good at?
Women are nurturing Asians are good at math African-Americans are athletic Gay men have good fashion sense

The Impact of Stereotypes on Group Members Performance

There are also some negative stereotypes about what group members are not good at. How do these stereotypes affect group members performance in these domains? Imagine you are a female college student about to take a difficult Math exam
Stereotype: women are not good at Math How would you feel? How might you react?

Stereotype Threat
The apprehension experienced by members of group that their behavior might confirm a negative cultural stereotype about their group in that domain.
This threat actually undermines performance. Predictions for female student? Her concern about confirming stereotypes by performing poorly on Math testlower score.

Important: individual does not have to personally believe the stereotype for it to shape performance.
Just the knowledge that the stereotype is out there (and that ones behavior could confirm it) is enough.

Steele & Aronson, 1995 (Study 1)

Black and White participants Racial stereotype of intelligence (Whites outperform racial minorities) made salient
Experimental: participants told test is diagnostic of ability Control: test is non-diagnostic

Examined test performance on a challenging verbal test

Predictions?

Steele & Aronson, 1995 (Study 1)

Performance gap eliminated

Steele & Aronson, 1995 (Study 4)

Everyone told the test was non-diagnostic Racial group membership was manipulated
Experimental: indicate race on test form Control: no race question

Steele & Aronson, 1995 (Study 4)

Performance gap eliminated

Stereotype Threat and Personal Identity

Self-relevant negative stereotype in a particular domain Women are bad at Math, and I am a woman. Person identifies with that domain I want to do well in my Math class. Performance in the situation is diagnostic I might validate this stereotype if I get a low score. About a social identity, so applies to many groups
Men and social sensitivity (Koenig & Eagly, 2005) Whites and racism (Frantz, Cuddy, Burnett, Ray, & Hart, 2004) Low SES and intellectual ability (Harrison, Stevens, Monty, &
Coakley, 2006)

Whites and athletic ability (Stone, 2002)

Stereotypes and Multiple Identities

Women Not good at Math

Asians
Good at Math

Shih, Pittinsky & Ambady, 1999

Remind Asian-American women of their:
Experimental 1: Asian identity (questions about languages spoken, race, etc.)

Experimental 2: Female identity (questions about co-ed housing)

Control: Neither identity (questions about telephone service)

Take a math test

Shih, Pittinsky & Ambady, 1999

0.6

Accuracy on math test

0.4

0.2 Asian Neutral Female

Fear of Backlash
Sometimes, people do overcome expectations and perform well in ways that violate stereotypes
Female leaders
Carly Fiorina: Hewlett-Packard CEO Hillary Clinton

Racial minorities and academic excellence

Dr. Henry Gates incident

White rappers
Eminem

What happens to these people?

Fear of Backlash
The fear that you will experience backlash (social and economic penalties) for behavior that violates stereotypes.
Clinton? Nicknames?

Clinton and Backlash

Stainless steel thighs! Cracks toughest nuts!

Every time she comes on TV, I involuntarily cross my legs.

Fear of Backlash
The fear that you will experience backlash (social and economic penalties) for behavior that violates stereotypes.
Clinton? Nicknames? Shes competent, but... ...women shouldnt behave that way, so I dont like her.

FOB undermines later success in this domain.

Im concerned that people will dislike me for violating gender stereotypesless leadership behavior in the future.

Rudman & Fairchild, 2004 (Study 3)

Male and female Ps took 2 gendered knowledge tests In reality, both tests measured fairly obscure knowledge
Female: You wear Manolo Blahniks on your:
Head vs. feet

Female: A roux is best described as a:

Sauce vs. cake

Male: What is the best way to deflect a punch?

Use the forearm to block it vs. use the hand to catch it

Male: To help an engine produce more power:

Inject the fuel vs. reduce displacement

Rudman & Fairchild, 2004 (Study 3)

Manipulated whether Ps violated gender stereotypes or not
No violation condition: told they had a high score on own sex test, low score on cross-sex test Stereotype violation condition: high score on cross-sex test, low score on own-sex test

DVs FOB Deception

Hiding success (publicize high score on website) Lying about success (enter wrong gender winners lottery)

Increased gender conformity (interest in future occupations and sports)

Rudman & Fairchild, 2004 (Study 3)

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 FOB Deception Conformity

Stereotype Violators Non Stereotype Violators

Fear of Backlash
People who violate gender stereotypes:
Fear backlash from others Hide their success (cant serve as role models to others) Conform to gender stereotypes in the future

Reinforces the existing stereotype

Because there are few salient examples of people violating stereotypes

Men and Fear of Backlash

(Moss-Racusin, Phelan & Rudman, 2010)

True for BOTH MEN AND WOMEN Men: expected to be strong, stoic, and hypermasculine
Living up to this ideal has serious mental and physical health consequences But: backlash for appearing modest Strict gender rules for how men are expected to behave
i.e., what makes a real man

Fearing backlash and being the target of prejudice can limit free expression, and be painfully isolating
Recent tragic events at RU

Stereotype Threat vs. Fear of Backlash

Stereotype Threat
Concern over confirming negative group stereotype leads you to do poorly. I dont want my friend to think that women are bad drivers car accident.

Fear of Backlash
Doing well in counter-stereotypic domain leads you to fear penalties from others, and thus limit this behavior in the future. I just did really well on my Math test hiding news from friends, not studying as much next time.

Fear of Backlash and Womens Self-Promotion

Specific example of how FOB undermines peoples performance. Self-Promotion:
Pointing with pride to ones accomplishments, speaking directly about ones strengths and talents, and making internal rather than external attributions for achievements (Rudman, 1998). Critical for career success
Predicts perceptions of competence (Jones & Pittman, 1982). Shapes hiring and promotion decisions (Janoff-Bulman & Wade, 1996).

Womens Self-Promotion
Backlash for womens self-promotion Self-Promotion violates stereotypes calling for women to be nice, modest, and other-oriented
(Eagly & Karau, 2002; Rudman, 1998).

Implications for womens actual self-promotion?

No existing data on gender differences in selfpromotion behavior Past work has focused on salary negotiations
Predictions for gender gap in negotiating first job $?

Gender Differences in Salary Negotiation

119000 118000 117000 116000 115000 114000 113000 112000 111000 110000 Negotiation Outcome ($)

Amanatullah & Morris, 2010

Gender Differences in Salary Negotiation

119,000 118,000 117,000 116,000 115,000 114,000 113,000 112,000 111,000 110,000 Men

Negotiation Outcome ($)

Amanatullah & Morris, 2010

Gender Differences in Negotiation (for self)

119,000 118,000 117,000 116,000 115,000 114,000 113,000 112,000 111,000 110,000 Men Women

Negotiation Outcome ($)

$26,615 loss after 5 years

Amanatullah & Morris, 2010

Womens Self-Promotion
2 specific research questions
1. Do women have difficulty with selfpromotion relative to men (like negotiation)? 2. Does FOB contribute to this difficulty?

Gender Differences in SelfPromotion Success (Live Interview)

0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 -0.25

Self-Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Gender Differences in SelfPromotion Success (Live Interview)

0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 -0.25 Men

Self-Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Gender Differences in SelfPromotion Success (Live Interview)

0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 -0.25 Men Women

Self-Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Gender Differences in SelfPromotion

Does this mean that women simply arent cut out for self-promotion?
What contributes to this gender difference?

Maybe other factors related to discrimination are at work

Improving Womens Promotion Behavior

Women encounter backlash when they selfpromote
S-P violates feminine gender stereotypes

Women should excel at promoting a peer

Consistent with feminine gender stereotypes Would demonstrate that women have the skills necessary to self-promote, but are hampered by FOB for violating gender stereotypes

Self vs. Peer Differences in Womens Promotion Success (Written Essay)

0.35 0.25 0.15 0.05 -0.05 -0.15 -0.25 Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Self vs. Peer Differences in Womens Promotion Success (Written Essay)

0.35 0.25 0.15 0.05 -0.05 -0.15 -0.25 Self-Promotion Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Self vs. Peer Differences in Womens Promotion Success (Written Essay)

0.35 0.25 0.15 0.05 -0.05 -0.15 -0.25 Self-Promotion Peer-Promotion Promotion Success

Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Fear of Backlash
Women are capable of promotion (for a peer), so why arent they self-promoting? Women fear backlash for violating stereotypes
(Rudman & Fairchild, 2004)

Does FOB help explain womens self-promotion detriments?

Yes: average correlation r = -.23, p < .05 The more women fear backlash, the less likely they are to self-promote well. Moss-Racusin & Rudman, 2010

Implications
FOB limits womens behavior
Workplace consequences: S-P necessary for career success

Its not that women lack the skills to selfpromote

Rather, women (correctly) anticipate backlash for self-promotion, which interrupts their ability to self-promote

Todays Topics
How do stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination affect their targets?
Is there an impact on their behavior?
1. Stereotype Threat 2. Fear of BacklashWomens Self-Promotion

Should discrimination be confronted?

3. Confronting and reducing prejudice

Exercise
Imagine you are a female politician running for office. In an ad, your male competitor says: Jane Smith cannot get the job done as an elected official. Shes known to be an ice queen and a mean girl--she doesnt care about voters, and accepts gifts from wealthy lobbyists. If shell trade her policy opinions for money, what else might she do? Do you really want to elect this kind of prostitute? Not an attack on policy--just sexist language (Clinton revisited). Would the ad hurt your chances of being elected? What should you do?

Pick a Reaction
A: Do nothing, and continue with your campaign as planned. Sexist attacks shouldnt be dignified with a response, and it would only give more press to the negative comments. B: When you are asked about the ad by a reporter, mention that you found it to be inappropriate, and then let it go. C: Hold a press conference to offer your response. Say that the ad was sexist, divisive rhetoric.

Lake, 2010
Large-scale poll administered to 800 likely voters for 2010 midterm election. Half heard the sexist ad, half heard an ad attacking policy positions. DV: willingness to vote for female candidate.

Lake, 2010
Sexism works. 21% of voters would still support a female candidate attacked on her policy positions.
Reflects existing preference for male candidates.

25 20 15 10 5 0 % Supporting Policy Attack Sexist Attack

Support drops drastically as a result of sexist language. Does confrontation matter?

Lake, 2010
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 A B C Policy At tack Se xist At tack

% Supporting

Confronting Prejudice Matters

It can undo the damage of sexist language for female politicians (Lake, 2010) It is associated with womens feelings of competence, self-esteem, and empowerment (Gervais, Hillard & Vescio, 2010) Not confronting is linked to negative affect, cognitive distraction, and performance impairments for women
(Shelton et al., 2006)

Confronting perpetrators of racial bias often leads them to experience guilt and apologize/engage in corrective responses (Czopp & Monteith, 2003). Unchallenged prejudice is likely to persist (Rudman &
Fairchild, 2004)

It can be taught, at least for kids (Lamb et al., 2006)

Teaching Confronting (Lamb et al., 2009)

Elementary school Ps were told stories in which a sexist comment occurs
You cant be the doctor, you have to be the nurse! Why do you have a boys haircut? Boys are better at math than girls.

Ps then asked how they would respond

Agreed with sexist remark Ignored sexist remark Objected to sexist remark mildly Confronted sexist remark Trained to confront (either narrative or practice condition), and then measured again 2 weeks later

Teaching Confronting (Lamb et al., 2009)

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Agree Ignore Object Challenge Pretest Narrative Practice

Teaching Confronting (Lamb et al., 2009)

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Agree Ignore Object Challenge Pretest Narrative Practice

Teaching Confronting (Lamb et al., 2009)

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Agree Ignore Object Challenge Pretest Narrative Practice

Final Thoughts
Being targeted by stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination has serious consequences
Undermines performance Limits human behavior Mental and physical health

Confronting bias is essential

We can all participate