Overhearing an ethnic slur only fuels bias when the target fits the 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 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Merely overhearing ethnic slurs makes bystanders devalue the targeted group.; Overheard ethnic slurs bias judgments only when behavior fits the targeted stereotype — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1920; Aversive racists discriminate only where bias can be excused nonracially — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2169 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Overheard ethnic slurs bias judgments only when behavior fits the targeted stereotype #corroborates (1.00) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1920