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Completing the implicit association test reduces positive intergroup interaction behavior.

Jacquie D Vorauer¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. vorauer@cc.umanitoba.ca

Psychological Science

|August 17, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Completing the Implicit Association Test (IAT) may harm intergroup interactions. Research shows a race-relevant IAT can make interaction partners feel less positively regarded due to cautious communication.

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Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Intergroup Relations
Bias Research

Background:

Implicit Association Test (IAT) is often used to improve intergroup relations by increasing awareness of bias.
Concerns exist that IAT may negatively impact interactions by increasing caution, reducing self-efficacy, or priming categorical thinking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of completing a race-relevant IAT on the quality of subsequent intergroup interactions.
To determine if the IAT's impact on interactions is specific to race-relevant contexts and not observed with irrelevant tasks or explicit measures.

Main Methods:

Two experiments were conducted where White participants completed either a race-relevant IAT, a race-irrelevant IAT, or an explicit prejudice measure before interacting with another individual.
Interaction partners' perceptions of the exchange were assessed. Mediation analyses examined the mechanisms behind observed effects.

Main Results:

White participants who completed a race-relevant IAT reported their interaction partners felt less positively regarded compared to those who did not complete the IAT.
No negative effects on interaction quality were found when participants completed a race-irrelevant IAT or an explicit prejudice measure.
Mediation analysis indicated that cautious communication and reduced self-disclosure by White participants explained the negative impact of the race-relevant IAT.

Conclusions:

The race-relevant Implicit Association Test may inadvertently hinder positive intergroup interactions.
The findings suggest that while aiming to reduce bias, the IAT's methodology might lead to cautious behavior that diminishes positive regard in interactions.
Future research should consider the potential downsides of IAT use in promoting intergroup harmony.