Stereotyping and evaluation in implicit race bias: Evidence for independent constructs and unique effects on behavior.

David M. Amodio, Patricia G. Devine

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 2006 · 539 citations · 43 references

Concepts

TL;DR

Implicit stereotyping and prejudice are often conflated, but neuroanatomy indicates they stem from distinct semantic and affective memory systems. The study aims to distinguish implicit stereotyping, linked to cognitive processes and instrumental behaviors, from implicit evaluation, linked to affective processes and consummatory behaviors. Across three studies, participants’ implicit stereotyping and evaluation were independent, and each uniquely predicted different self‑reported and behavioral responses to African Americans, supporting the distinct construct validity of the two biases.

Abstract

Implicit stereotyping and prejudice often appear as a single process in behavior, yet functional neuroanatomy suggests that they arise from fundamentally distinct substrates associated with semantic versus affective memory systems. On the basis of this research, the authors propose that implicit stereotyping reflects cognitive processes and should predict instrumental behaviors such as judgments and impression formation, whereas implicit evaluation reflects affective processes and should predict consummatory behaviors, such as interpersonal preferences and social distance. Study 1 showed the independence of participants' levels of implicit stereotyping and evaluation. Studies 2 and 3 showed the unique effects of implicit stereotyping and evaluation on self-reported and behavioral responses to African Americans using double-dissociation designs. Implications for construct validity, theory development, and research design are discussed.

References

43