Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Psychophysiology
• Sociology

Background:

• Stigma can influence social interactions and lead to negative outcomes for stigmatized individuals.
• Understanding perceivers' threat reactions is crucial for addressing stigma's impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stigma-threat hypothesis, examining how stigmatized interaction partners elicit threat responses.
• To explore the physiological, behavioral, and subjective measures of threat.
• To assess the moderating role of intergroup contact on threat responses.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments manipulated stigma using facial birthmarks, race, and socioeconomic status.
• Physiological (cardiovascular reactivity), behavioral (performance), and subjective (self-report) measures were used.
• Intergroup contact was assessed in relation to physiological threat responses.

Main Results:

• Participants interacting with stigmatized partners showed threat-related cardiovascular reactivity and poorer performance.
• Non-stigmatized partners elicited challenge reactivity.
• Greater intergroup contact with Black individuals reduced physiological threat responses.

Conclusions:

• Results support the stigma-threat hypothesis.
• A biopsychosocial approach is valuable for studying stigma.
• Intergroup contact can buffer against stigma-induced threat.