Self-image threat decreases stereotyping: The role of motivation toward closure

Abstract

Some prior research indicated that self-image threat may lead people to stereotyping and prejudiced evaluations of others. Other studies found that self-image threat may promote less stereotypical thinking and unprejudiced behavior. In a series of three studies, we demonstrate that self-image threat may lead to either more or less stereotypical perception of the outgroup depending on the level of the individuals` motivation toward closure (NFC). The results reveal that when individuals high (vs. low) in NFC perceived a member of an outgroup, they are less likely to use stereotypical traits if their self-image had been threatened by negative feedback (Study 1) or if they had imagined an example of their own immoral activity (Studies 2 and 3). Moreover, our results demonstrate that the fear of invalidity resulting from self-image threat induction is responsible for the foregoing effects (Study 3). These results are discussed in light of theories of motivational readiness and lay epistemics.

Need for closure and compensatory rule‐based perception: The role of information consistency

“…However, when individuals high in NFC were provided with information that was expectancy-inconsistent, these effects disappeared. These results are in line with research showing that inconsistency between preexisting knowledge structures and information from the environment (e.g., about one's competence, morality, power position, or the uncontrollability of expected outcomes) leads people to employ stereotypical information less as a means to form impressions about target groups (e.g., Kossowska et al, 2015;Kossowska, Bukowski, et al, 2016;Kossowska, Guinote, & Strojny, 2016;Rios, Markman, Schroeder, & Dyczewski, 2014;Tadmor et al, 2012).…”

The influence of need for cognitive closure on the attention‐recognition stage of preventive coping

“…A higher mean score indicated higher NFCC. Cronbach's α for the revised scale was .81 in the current study and .85 in previous studies (Kossowska, Bukowski, Guinote, Dragon, & Kruglanski, ). Manipulation check questionnaire . To ensure that the experiment instructions exerted the intended effects, we obtained participants' opinions about the experiment's safety, rated on a scale ranging from 1 ( very safe ) to 7 ( very harmful ), and their current emotional states, rated on a scale ranging from 1 ( extremely relaxed ) to 7 ( extremely worried ).…”

“…Since participants experienced more threat in the consistent condition, an alternative explanation of the results is that the increased attention to potential stressors and the promoted preventive coping in the consistent condition is due to the threat imposed by the manipulation. Studies have found that high NFCC was related to more effortful rather than heuristic processing when there is a threat involved (Kossowska et al, ). However, the results showed that NFCC was positively associated with negative information searching and negatively associated with positive information searching, which indicated increasing heuristic processing along with high NFCC.…”

Need for closure effect on collective action intentions and behavior toward immigrants in Italy: The mediation of binding foundations and political conservatism

“…As in Study 2, there was no direct effect of need for closure on collective action. This is consistent with prior claims that high levels of need for closure do not necessarily lead to out‐group derogation (Kossowska, Bukowski, Guinote, Dragon, & Kruglanski, ). Specifically, the authors showed that high need for closure individuals, compared to low need for closure individuals, are less likely to develop stereotypical evaluations of the out‐group's members when their self‐image is threatened by negative feedback (Study 1) or immoral behavior (Studies 2 and 3).…”