Conversation magnifies stigma-consistent stereotypes when people seek consensus

Evidence

Hence, people will be motivated to exchange information with other ingroup members about outgroups. And in such interactions, what observations and beliefs are likely to emerge? Group discussions tend to be dominated by shared information – i.e., knowledge available to many members of a group – rather than by unshared information, or the idiosyncratic bits of knowledge possessed by individual people (Larson, Foster-Fishman, & Keys, 1994). Thus, if many individuals have projected specific traits onto an outgroup, those common perceptions are likely to be exchanged and discussed. As a result, stereotypes initially constructed at the level of the individual could be further developed and elaborated at the group level. Furthermore, research by Lambert et al. (2003) shows that when people think about groups in the presence (or even imagined presence) of others, the likelihood that stereotypes associated with those groups will come to mind and be expressed significantly increases. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2368 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Because people are interdependent within the ingroup, they struggle to find socially shared ways to make sense of outgroups, often to outgroups’ detriment. For example, after a negative revelation (e.g., discovering a previously unknown stigma), conversational dyads’ shared impressions of another person focus on stereotypes, especially negative, stigma-congruent information. Also, the more people are motivated toward consensus, the more they seek to construct shared stereotypic impressions (see Ruscher, 2001). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 329 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Perceived social consensus licenses people to express their biases; Group discussion amplifies shared biased perceptions into consensual stereotypes — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2368; Group conversation amplifies negative stigma-congruent impressions of outgroups — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 329 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Group discussion amplifies shared biased perceptions into consensual stereotypes #corroborates (1.00) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2368
• Group conversation amplifies negative stigma-congruent impressions of outgroups #expands (0.95) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 329