Stereotype Traits can be Processed Automatically

摘要

Stereotypes can theoretically influence information processing in two different ways: through passive activation of stereotype-related trait concepts in a network memory structure, or through consciously generated expectancies and inferences. A priming paradigm was adapted to investigate the role of these two processes in the case of gender and occupational stereotypes. In two experiments, subjects pronounced trait words as rapidly as possible. The trait words were preceded by either a neutral priming word or a social group label (e.g., male or lawyer) with respect to which the traits were stereotype-consistent, inconsistent, or irrelevant. The pronunciation time was measured to index the degree of activation on the trait concept in memory, produced by the stereotyped group label. Results showed that gender stereotypes activate their associated traits automatically whereas occupational stereotypes activate related traits mainly through conscious expectancies. Practical and theoretical implications of the results are discussed, particularly with regard to the prospects for integration of social cognition and general cognitive models of memory and inference processes. (Author)