Cognitive costs of contemporary prejudice

Mary C. Murphy, Jennifer A. Richeson, J. Nicole Shelton, Michelle L. Rheinschmidt, Hilary B. Bergsieker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two studies examined the cognitive costs of blatant and subtle racial bias during interracial interactions. In Study 1, Black participants engaged in a 10-minute, face-to-face interaction with a White confederate who expressed attitudes and behaviors consistent with blatant, subtle, or no racial bias. Consistent with contemporary theories of modern racism, interacting with a subtly biased, compared with a blatantly biased, White partner impaired the cognitive functioning of Blacks. Study 2 revealed that Latino participants suffered similar cognitive impairments when exposed to a White partner who displayed subtle, compared with blatant, racial bias. The theoretical and practical implications for understanding the dynamics of interracial interactions in the context of contemporary bias are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)560-571
Number of pages12
JournalGroup Processes and Intergroup Relations
Volume16
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Communication
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science

Keywords

  • attributional ambiguity
  • cognitive depletion
  • executive function
  • interracial interactions
  • prejudice
  • racial and ethnic relations

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