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Does suppressing the thought of a self-relevant stigma affect interpersonal interaction?
Jennifer L S Borton1, David R Reiner, Erica V Vazquez
1Hamilton College, Department of Psychology, 198 College Hill Rd., Clinton, NY 13323, USA. jborton@hamilton.edu
The Journal of Social Psychology
|June 17, 2011
Summary
Suppressing negative gender stereotypes about women
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Gender Studies
- Stereotype Threat Research
Background:
- Gender stereotypes can negatively impact women's self-perception and behavior.
- Stigma consciousness, awareness of societal prejudice, can exacerbate stereotype threat effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of suppressing negative gender stereotypes during social interaction.
- To examine the role of stigma consciousness in moderating these effects.
Main Methods:
- Participants interacted with a male confederate after being instructed to suppress negative stereotypes about women's abilities.
- Measures included self-confidence, self-esteem, and nonverbal submissiveness.
- Stigma consciousness was assessed using a validated scale.
Main Results:
- Women who suppressed negative stereotypes reported lower self-confidence and self-esteem compared to controls.
- Suppression led to increased nonverbal submissiveness, especially for those high in stigma consciousness.
- These effects highlight the detrimental impact of managing stereotype-related thoughts.
Conclusions:
- Suppressing negative gender stereotypes has significant costs, including diminished self-worth and altered social behavior.
- Individuals with high stigma consciousness are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of stereotype suppression.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing the underlying stereotypes rather than merely suppressing their expression.
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