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When prejudice does not pay: effects of interracial contact on executive function
Jennifer A Richeson1, J Nicole Shelton
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. jriches@dartmouth.edu
Psychological Science
|May 14, 2003
Summary
Interacting with someone of a different race can impair cognitive function, especially for prejudiced individuals. This effect on executive function is linked to self-regulation demands during interracial interactions.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Racial Studies
Background:
- Interracial interactions can pose unique psychological challenges.
- Self-regulation and executive control are crucial for navigating social situations.
- Implicit racial attitudes may influence cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how interracial interaction affects cognitive functioning in the dominant racial group.
- To determine the role of implicit racial attitudes in this effect.
- To examine the link between self-regulation demands and cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- White participants interacted with either a White or Black confederate.
- Implicit Association Test (IAT) measured racial attitudes pre-interaction.
- Participants completed a Stroop color-naming test post-interaction.
Main Results:
- Interracial interaction impaired performance on the Stroop test.
- Racial attitudes predicted this impairment only in interracial interactions.
- Same-race interactions did not show a similar cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
- Interracial interaction demands self-regulation, particularly for prejudiced individuals.
- This self-regulation tax negatively impacts subsequent executive function.
- Findings support resource models of self-regulation and executive control.