Stereotypes and stigma: biased attributions in matching older persons with drawings of viruses?

To test whether germs are perceived as more harmful and threatening in stigmatized groups, photographs of young Black, young Hispanic, young White, and older White persons were shown for five seconds. Participants (N = 62) matched photographs with five drawings of viruses. The viruses were pre-rated by a separate sample (N = 39) and it was determined that the viruses formed a continuum along a 5-point scale from benign to threatening. Utilizing ANOVA, statistical significance was found (F(3,183) = 3.77,p < .05) between the four groups of photographs, with post-hoc analysis indicating differences between young Hispanic and older White persons. Perceptions of attractiveness (r = .5) may have influenced choice of virus matched with person.