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Updated: May 23, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
The cortisol response to anticipated intergroup interactions predicts self-reported prejudice.
Erik Bijleveld1, Daan Scheepers, Naomi Ellemers
1Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.h.bijleveld@uu.nl
Biological underpinnings of prejudice were explored. Cortisol responses, indicating hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, predicted prejudice when anticipating interactions with dissimilar out-group members.
Area of Science:
- Social Neuroscience
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
Background:
- Prejudice is often linked to threat experiences, but its biological basis is under-researched.
- The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a key stress response system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if HPA axis activation predicts prejudice.
- To explore if interpersonal similarity moderates the link between HPA activity and prejudice.
Main Methods:
- Participants anticipated interactions with similar or dissimilar out-group members.
- Cortisol levels were measured to assess HPA axis activation.
- Subtle and blatant prejudices were measured using questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Cortisol responses significantly predicted subtle prejudice (r=.50) and blatant prejudice (r=.53).
- This prediction was significant only when participants anticipated interacting with dissimilar out-group members.
Conclusions:
- Prejudicial attitudes are associated with HPA axis activity.
- When intergroup interactions focus on individuals rather than groups, threat perception is less linked to prejudice.
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