Saying no to unwanted thoughts: Self-focus and the regulation of mental life

Author(s): Bodenhausen, G. V., Milne, A. B.

Journal/Book: J Personal Soc Psychol. 1998; 74: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 578-589.

Abstract: Drawing from models of mental control and cognitive self-regulation, it was hypothesized that heightened self-focus would promote the spontaneous suppression of social stereotypes, Participants who were induced to experience heightened self-focus indeed produced less stereotypic descriptions of social targets (Studies 1-4). Study 5 further demonstrated that self-focus produced reductions in stereotyping only among those participants whose personal standards dictated stereotype avoidance. A final study demonstrated that these spontaneous forms of stereotype suppression can produce a rebound effect, in which the magnitude of stereotyping increases markedly after a period of suppression. These findings are considered in the context of contemporary issues in mental control and social stereotyping.

Note: Article Macrae CN, Univ St Andrews, Sch Psychol, St Andrews KY16 9JU, Fife, SCOTLAND

Keyword(s): IMPRESSION-FORMATION; STEREOTYPES; ATTENTION; AWARENESS; PREJUDICE; INFORMATION; SUPPRESSION; PERCEPTION; ACTIVATION; ATTITUDES

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