PREJUDICE, STEREOTYPES, AND LABELING EFFECTS - SOURCES OF BIAS IN PERSON PERCEPTION

A preliminary study and 3 experiments compared predictions generated b y contrasting models of how group labels bias person perception. An af fective model assumed that how much perceivers like different groups m ediates bias; a cognition model assumed that perceivers' beliefs regar ding different groups mediates bias; and a third model assumed that bo th affect and cognition are necessary to mediate bias. Perceivers eval uated behavior samples provided by targets who were labeled as either rock music performers or child abusers in the preliminary study and th e first 2 experiments; homosexuals or heterosexuals in the third exper iment. In all studies, controlling for liking eliminated bias. The pre liminary study and Study 3 also showed that controlling for beliefs ab out the groups eliminated bias. Structural equation modeling provided support for the affect model in Studies 1 and 2, and mixed support for the affect model and the cognition model in Study 3. These studies su ggest an important role for affect in judgmental biases.