Positive stereotyping: Influence tactic for prejudice reduction?

Abstract

We explored the effect of making salient a positive stereotype toward an outgroup member. Combining personalization theory and contact theory, we predicted increased acceptance of an out-group only when: (a) positive information is presented about an individual out-group member, rather than his or her social category, and (b) that information confirms a stereotype of that out-group. Confirming this prediction, in two 2 × 2 factorial experiments, each with an additional no information control condition, participants liked an out-group more when presented with positive stereotypical information about an out-group member than when presented with equally positive non-stereotypical information about that out-group member, or when presented with either type of information about the out-group as a whole. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)