Why do interracial interactions impair executive function? A resource depletion account.
Three studies investigated the veracity of a resource depletion account of the impairment of inhibitory task performance after interracial contact. White individuals engaged in either an interracial or same-race interaction, then completed an ostensibly unrelated Stroop color-naming test. In each study, the self-regulatory demands of the interaction were either increased (Study 1) or decreased (Studies 2 and 3). Results revealed that increasing the self-regulatory demands of an interracial interaction led to greater Stroop interference compared with control, whereas reducing self-regulatory demands led to less Stroop interference. Manipulating self-regulatory demands did not affect Stroop performance after same-race interactions. Taken together, the present studies point to resource depletion as the likely mechanism underlying the impairment of cognitive functioning after interracial dyadic interactions.
Richeson
Jennifer A
JA
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College.
Trawalter
Sophie
S
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College.
D003071:Cognition; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D011930:Reaction Time; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D014743:Videotape Recording