Do norms unintentionally increase stereotypical expressions? A randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Implicit biases in healthcare professionals can lead to biased judgments.
• Many anti-bias interventions are ineffective or counterproductive.
• Descriptive social norms may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if descriptive social norms, like 'the majority of people have stereotypes,' increase stereotype expression.
• To examine the influence of individual perceptions and preferences on stereotypical expressions.
• To assess these effects on expressions towards medical students.

Main Methods:

• Stereotypes prevalent in Dutch medical education were identified.
• Two randomized controlled trials were conducted with teachers and students using majority and minority ethnic pictures.
• Participants were assigned to majority-message, minority-message, or no-message conditions; stereotype expression and individual factors (inclusive work environment, social dominance orientation) were measured.

Main Results:

• Stereotypes were expressed towards both majority and minority ethnic pictures.
• Message condition did not significantly affect stereotype expression.
• Social dominance orientation correlated positively with stereotypes towards East Asian students; inclusive work environment correlated positively with stereotypes towards native Dutch students.

Conclusions:

• Communicating majority social norms does not unintentionally increase stereotypes.
• Individual perceptions and preferences, not descriptive social norms, predict stereotype expression.
• Findings suggest focusing on individual factors in anti-bias strategies for medical education.