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The long, steep path to equality: progressing on egalitarian goals
1Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. nikkimann@gmail.com
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|September 21, 2011
Summary
Receiving feedback on progress toward egalitarian goals unexpectedly increased racial bias. Participants showed more prejudice and discrimination after believing they were becoming more egalitarian.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Social Cognition
- Intergroup Relations
Background:
- Understanding the psychological underpinnings of racial bias is crucial for addressing societal inequalities.
- Previous research has explored factors influencing prejudice, but the impact of perceived progress on social goals remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how perceived progress toward egalitarian goals influences subsequent racial bias.
- To examine the effects of this feedback on intergroup behavior, attitudes, and implicit racial prejudice.
Main Methods:
- A novel bogus pipeline procedure was employed to provide participants with false feedback on their progress toward egalitarian goals.
- Three studies assessed the impact of this feedback (progress, failure, or no feedback) on measures of outgroup discrimination, ingroup favoritism, and implicit racial attitudes.
Main Results:
- Participants receiving feedback indicating progress on egalitarian goals exhibited significantly greater racial bias compared to those receiving failure feedback or no feedback.
- This increased bias manifested as greater physical distancing from Black individuals, closer proximity to White individuals, and heightened implicit racial prejudice.
Conclusions:
- Perceived progress on egalitarian goals can paradoxically lead to increased racial bias, challenging existing theories of prejudice.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between social goals, self-perception, and intergroup attitudes, with implications for interventions aimed at reducing bias.
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