Does Perspective-Taking Impact Negative Stereotypes and Negative Meta-Stereotypes White Americans hold?
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Danica Kulibert
Department
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Abstract
Meta-stereotypes refer to the stereotypes people believe others have about their group (e.g., White Americans believe Black/African Americans view them as prejudice). The current study aimed to assess how empathy impacts meta-stereotypes. White participants were asked to report the meta-stereotypes they held regarding Black/African Americans. They were also asked about their tendency to empathize with others. We then examined how both meta-perceptions and empathy related to White participants’ own prejudice towards Black/African Americans. We found that both meta-stereotypes and empathy relate to one’s own stereotypes. Specifically, higher trait empathy was related to less stereotyping but more meta-stereotyping. We also found that intergroup anxiety was not related to meta-stereotypes or stereotypes but was related to empathy. Overall, this research suggests that empathy and perspective-taking may impact intergroup relationships by reducing anxiety and reducing the stereotypes people have about outgroup members
Disciplines
Social Psychology
Does Perspective-Taking Impact Negative Stereotypes and Negative Meta-Stereotypes White Americans hold?
Meta-stereotypes refer to the stereotypes people believe others have about their group (e.g., White Americans believe Black/African Americans view them as prejudice). The current study aimed to assess how empathy impacts meta-stereotypes. White participants were asked to report the meta-stereotypes they held regarding Black/African Americans. They were also asked about their tendency to empathize with others. We then examined how both meta-perceptions and empathy related to White participants’ own prejudice towards Black/African Americans. We found that both meta-stereotypes and empathy relate to one’s own stereotypes. Specifically, higher trait empathy was related to less stereotyping but more meta-stereotyping. We also found that intergroup anxiety was not related to meta-stereotypes or stereotypes but was related to empathy. Overall, this research suggests that empathy and perspective-taking may impact intergroup relationships by reducing anxiety and reducing the stereotypes people have about outgroup members