Authors
Steven Fein, Steven J Spencer
Publication date
1997/7
Journal
Journal of personality and Social Psychology
Volume
73
Issue
1
Pages
31
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Description
The authors argue that self-image maintenance processes play an important role in stereotyping and prejudice. Three studies demonstrated that when individuals evaluated a member of a stereotyped group, they were less likely to evaluate that person negatively if their self-images had been bolstered through a self-affirmation procedure, and they were more likely to evaluate that person stereotypically if their self-images had been threatened by negative feedback. Moreover, among those individuals whose self-image had been threatened, derogating a stereotyped target mediated an increase in their self-esteem. The authors suggest that stereotyping and prejudice may be a common means to maintain one's self-image, and they discuss the role of self-image-maintenance processes in the context of motivational, sociocultural, and cognitive approaches to stereotyping and prejudice.(PsycINFO Database Record (c …
Total citations
Scholar articles
S Fein, SJ Spencer - Journal of personality and Social Psychology, 1997