Overheard ethnic slurs bias judgments only when behavior fits the targeted stereotype

Evidence

Greenberg and Pyszczynski (1985) examined the influence of overhearing an ethnic slur or derogatory ethnic label on individuals’ perceptions of a member of the targeted group. White participants read about a vignette in which a Black or a White person was said to have either won or lost a debate. Participants then overheard either an ethnic slur (“nigger”) describing the debater, a neutral remark, or did not overhear any comment. Following this manipulation, participants rated the debaters’ skills. Results showed that when the Black debater had lost, participants rated him more negatively when they overheard the ethnic slur than when the ethnic slur was absent. The ethnic slur had no effect when the Black debater won, or on ratings of the White debater. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1920

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Allport’s own emphasis on language and labeling in prejudice, and to chapters on normative influences on prejudice elsewhere in this volume. — connects to: Relentless derogatory epithets defeat summary judgment in bias suits — Sahar F. Aziz, Sticks and Stones, the Words That Hurt:…, 280
• QUESTION: Would the slur effect replicate for inverting the direction — boosting a Black debater who wins? The paper only tested the loss condition, so the asymmetry is worth probing.