Motivated Processing of Black and White Targets: The Situation of Choice Versus Assignment
Titel:
Motivated Processing of Black and White Targets: The Situation of Choice Versus Assignment
Auteur:
Kernahan, Cyndi Bettencourt, B. Ann
Verschenen in:
Basic and applied social psychology
Paginering:
Jaargang 24 (2002) nr. 2 pagina's 125-144
Jaar:
2002-06-01
Inhoud:
This set of studies compares the effects of choice among partners versus assignment to partner in an outcome-dependent context. In both studies, White participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions. In the first condition participants were assigned to a White partner, in a second condition they were assigned to a Black partner, and in a third condition they were given a choice between a Black and a White partner. Regardless of condition, all participants read essentially equivalent information about the targets. Results showed that participants given a choice generally preferred the White partner (especially if they held negative attitudes toward Blacks in general) and, rated her more favorably, whereas those assigned to a partner tended to rate their assigned partner more favorably regardless of race. Those given a choice of partner also construed their chosen partner more positively and rated her as more similar to themselves. In contrast, however, those assigned to a partner tended not to construe their partners in these ways. Results were discussed in terms of motivated reasoning theory.
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