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Moral credentials and the expression of prejudice
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544, USA. bmonin@princeton.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|July 28, 2001
Summary
People feel licensed to express prejudiced views after demonstrating nonprejudiced behavior. Past actions establishing nonprejudiced credentials can permit subsequent prejudiced expressions, even privately.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Attitude Formation
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Prejudiced attitudes and behaviors persist despite societal norms against them.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms that permit the expression of prejudice is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that individuals with established nonprejudiced credentials are more willing to express prejudiced attitudes.
- To explore the conditions under which people feel psychologically licensed to express illicit motives.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted involving participants' past behavior and subsequent attitude expression.
- Studies involved opportunities to disagree with sexist statements, select/reject candidates for jobs, and express politically incorrect opinions.
Main Results:
- Participants with established nonprejudiced credentials showed increased willingness to express prejudiced views.
- This effect was observed even when the audience was unaware of their credentials, suggesting an internal licensing mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Prior nonprejudiced behavior can create a psychological license for individuals to express prejudiced attitudes.
- The findings shed light on the complex interplay between behavior, self-perception, and attitude expression in social contexts.