Cognitive processes in stereotype formation: the role of correct contingency learning for biased group judgments.
Three studies investigated contingency learning and stereotype formation in a scenario about group membership and behavior with a confounding context factor. The studies tested predictions from theoretical accounts of biased group judgments in terms of simplistic reasoning, parallel distributed memory, and pseudocontingencies. Study 1 revealed a positive correlation between erroneous stereotype formation and learning of the true contingencies with the confounding factor. Study 2 showed that a focus manipulation during encoding moderated the correlation between stereotype formation and contingency learning but not the strength of the erroneous stereotype. Study 3 used a quasiexperimental comparison between participants with biased versus unbiased group judgments and extended the findings of a positive relation between stereotype formation and contingency learning. The results support an explanation of biased group judgments by pseudocontingencies; that is, unwarranted inferences from accurately perceived bivariate correlations in complex environments.
Meiser
Thorsten
T
Department of Psychology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany. thorsten.meiser@uni-jena.de
Hewstone
Miles
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011287:Prejudice; D012919:Social Behavior; D012928:Social Desirability; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology