Suppressing a stereotype paradoxically makes it rebound more powerfully later

Evidence

Research on mental control suggests that this commendable line of action may not always be the ideal strategy it seems to be at first sight. Indeed, because suppression apparently activates the very stereotype people wish to combat, stereotypic materials can become even more accessible during later encounters with members of the target group, causing a “rebound” effect of stereotypes on judgment and behavior when suppression is no longer enforced (Macrae, Bodenhausen, Milne, & Jetten, 1994). The paradoxical consequences of suppression are also demonstrated in studies showing that perceivers initially asked to suppress a stereotype later preferentially recalled (Macrae et al., 1996) and recognized (Sherman et al., 1997) stereotype-consistent over stereotype-inconsistent materials presented during the suppression episode. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1181

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the white-bear/ironic process theory of thought suppression; parallels Wegner’s work on mental control.
• SEED: Angle: suppression as boomerang — how good-faith attempts to police one’s own bias can entrench it. Relevenat to fairness-training programs that backfire.