TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of resource-based and fit-based theories of stereotyping under cognitive load and fit
AU - Nolan, Mark A.
AU - Haslam, S. Alexander
AU - Spears, Russell
AU - Oakes, Penelope J.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Should stereotyping be characterised as an act of cognitive miserliness of one of rational meaning-seeking? This paper uses a cognitive load paradigm to investigate the adequacy of popular resource-based explanations of stereotyping in comparison to an alternative fit-based or meaning-based explanation. In Experiment 1, load was increased by means of concurrent tasks within a highly fitting context (where targets generally behaved in a stereotype-consistent fashion). A linear decrease in stereotyping resulted as measured by category confusions on a who-said what recognition task (Taylor, Fiske, Etcoff & Ruderman, 1978). This outcome is inconsistent with a resource-based analysis of stereotyping. Experiment 2 manipulated load as stimulus exposure time. Although load was successfully imposed in this second experiment, stereotyping neither increased nor decreased as a function of load. The concept of cognitive load and the importance of fit for the analysis of stereotyping are discussed.
AB - Should stereotyping be characterised as an act of cognitive miserliness of one of rational meaning-seeking? This paper uses a cognitive load paradigm to investigate the adequacy of popular resource-based explanations of stereotyping in comparison to an alternative fit-based or meaning-based explanation. In Experiment 1, load was increased by means of concurrent tasks within a highly fitting context (where targets generally behaved in a stereotype-consistent fashion). A linear decrease in stereotyping resulted as measured by category confusions on a who-said what recognition task (Taylor, Fiske, Etcoff & Ruderman, 1978). This outcome is inconsistent with a resource-based analysis of stereotyping. Experiment 2 manipulated load as stimulus exposure time. Although load was successfully imposed in this second experiment, stereotyping neither increased nor decreased as a function of load. The concept of cognitive load and the importance of fit for the analysis of stereotyping are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033169293&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(199908/09)29:5/6<641::AID-EJSP953>3.0.CO;2-8
DO - 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(199908/09)29:5/6<641::AID-EJSP953>3.0.CO;2-8
M3 - Article
SN - 0046-2772
VL - 29
SP - 641
EP - 663
JO - European Journal of Social Psychology
JF - European Journal of Social Psychology
IS - 5-6
ER -