Implicit prejudice and stereotyping: how automatic are they? Introduction to the special section

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Attitudes and Social Cognition

Background:

• Examines the measurement and malleability of implicit prejudice and stereotypes.
• Questions assumptions of current models of prejudice and stereotyping.
• Focuses on the automatic and invariant activation of implicit biases.

Discussion:

• Investigates the widely used Implicit Association Test (IAT).
• Explores how contextual manipulations affect implicit prejudice.
• Challenges conventional wisdom in the field.

Key Insights:

• Implicit biases are not always automatically and invariantly activated.
• Contextual factors can significantly reduce implicit prejudice and stereotyping.
• Findings question the fundamental assumptions underlying implicit bias assessment.

Outlook:

• Stimulates further research into implicit and explicit processes in prejudice.
• Encourages re-evaluation of measurement techniques for implicit bias.
• Promotes a more nuanced understanding of prejudice and stereotyping.