Cultural pluralism and prejudice reduction.
Predictions derived from models of cultural pluralism and cultural assimilation were tested. Previous research has shown that highlighting differences between ethnic groups, in conjunction with self-focus, can reduce prejudice. The presented research tested the following questions: (a) does highlighting differences function to reduce prejudice between groups that are dissimilar to each other as well as between those that are highly similar, (b) is prejudice reduction due to distinctiveness a function of the lessened ingroup positivity or lessened outgroup negativity, (c) does making distinctiveness salient reduce prejudice toward only the distinctive outgroups or to outgroups more generically, and (d) does the manipulation equally impact African American, Mexican American, Mexican National, and White American participants? Results demonstrated that highlighting differences while simultaneously focusing on the self reduces prejudice, although similarity mediates the relationship with those who are perceived as more different. Distinctiveness also reduced outgroup negativity and generalized to other outgroups. Finally, the manipulation reduced prejudice only for White Americans, Mexican Americans, and Mexican Nationals.
Carpenter
Sandra
S
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA. carpens@uah.edu
Zárate
Michael A
MA
Garza
Azenett A
AA
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011287:Prejudice; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology