Discrimination Under Ego Depletion: Differential Effects for Perceived Controllable and Uncontrollable Stigmas

This study investigates the effect of self-control on discrimination against groups with perceived controllable and uncontrollable stigmas by experimentally manipulating state self-control. Sixty-nine university students in Canada completed either an ego depletion task intended to temporarily reduce their ability to exert self-control (depletion condition) or a similar task that did not affect self-control (control condition), and then filled out a measure assessing their discrimination against various groups. Results showed that participants in the depletion condition displayed greater discrimination against an uncontrollable stigma group (cutting more funds from the Arabs Association) than did participants in the control condition, but less discrimination against perceived controllable stigma groups (cutting less funds from the Smokers Rights Association and the Fat is Beautiful groups). These findings suggest that ego depletion may exacerbate biases against groups with inherent, unchangeable characteristics, but reduce negative biases towards groups whose stigma may be perceived as controllable.