The Role of Discrepancy-Associated Affect in Prejudice Reduction

Post date: Aug 19, 2015 9:05:16 AM

In recent years, the study of social stereotypes and their role in preju­dice and intergroup relations has been dominated by efforts to understand the cognitive processes underlying stereotype activation and use. Several reviews of the cognitive approach to stereotyping indicate that cognitive processes and biases seem to ensure the persistence of stereotypes and their resistance to change (sec Hamilton, 1981; Hamilton & Trolier, 1986; Stephan, 1985, 1989). Despite progress in understanding the operation of such processes, the exclusive emphasis on the cognitive approach to stereotypes is viewed by many as being too narrow to produce a complete under­standing of stereotype activation and use,