Communicating stereotype-relevant information : how readily can people individuate?

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Asian Journal of Social Psychology

Publication Date

12-1-2010

Volume

13

Issue

4

First Page

209

Last Page

220

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia

Keywords

communication, distinctiveness, individuation, stereotypicality

Abstract

It is often suggested that people automatically form an impression of a target by using stereotypes. However, people can flexibly deploy different types of individuating processes, depending on the communicative context. We showed that people can individuate targets from their social category by communicating stereotype-inconsistent information (person–group individuation) when they are required to reproduce information about the targets and people can individuate targets from other individuals by communicating information that is distinctive about the targets (person–person individuation) when required to identify the targets. The participants' performance is unrelated to information memorability (Experiment 1) and is not affected by time pressure (Experiment 2). Humans' adaptive capacity for individuation is discussed.

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-839X.2010.01313.x

Print ISSN

13672223

E-ISSN

1467839X

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd with the Asian Association of Social Psychology andthe Japanese Group Dynamics Association

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Accepted Author Manuscript

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Yeung, V. W. L., & Kashima, Y. (2010). Communicating stereotype-relevant information: How readily can people individuate? Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 13(4), 209-220. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-839X.2010.01313.x

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