Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Asymmetric Mixtures: Common Conceptual Priorities for Social and Chemical Kinds
Alexander Noyes1, Frank C Keil1
1Department of Psychology, Yale University.
Abstract:
Hypodescent is the phenomenon of categorizing biracial individuals asymmetrically (e.g., viewing Black-White biracial individuals as Black instead of White). We propose that hypodescent is explained by domain-general attentional biases toward dangerous and distinctive components in conceptual representation. This cognitive mechanism derives its empirical support from several research traditions, especially from research on how people evaluate generic statements. Here, we demonstrate how liquid mixtures are categorized in ways characteristic of hypodescent. Mixtures that contain equal amounts of two liquids are categorized as whichever liquid is more dangerous or distinctive (Study 1). Dangerous and distinctive components are prioritized even when they are less than 50% of the mixture (Study 2). The relative dangerousness or distinctiveness of liquids (Study 3) or racial groups (Study 4) predicts the strength and direction of this asymmetry. We discuss how conceptual prominence relates to previous theories of hypodescent.
More Related Videos
06:16Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
11:13The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Mixtures of Acids
A Mixture of a Strong Acid and a Weak Acid
In a mixture of a strong acid and a weak acid, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions...
Mixtures of Acids
In a strong and weak acid mixture, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions present in the solution. In contrast, the weak acid shows...
Social Proof
Social Loafing
Social Scripts
Social Traps