BIASED ASSIMILATION, ATTITUDE POLARIZATION, AND AFFECT IN REACTIONS TO STEREOTYPE-RELEVANT SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION

Two studies examined (a) whether biased assimilation and attitude pola rization occur in the processing of stereotype-relevant scientific inf ormation and (b) the role of affect in these processes. In Study I, in dividuals high or low in prejudice toward homosexuals read two fictiti ous studies, one confirming and one disconfirming the stereotype of ho mosexuality. Study 2 replicated Study I using a sample including indiv iduals with moderate attitudes about homosexuality. Evidence of biased assimilation was found. Participants perceived research consistent wi th their attitude about homosexuality as more convincing than research inconsistent with their attitude. Evidence of attitude polarization w as also found but was restricted to measures of perceived attitude cha nge. Finally, participants reported more negative affective reactions after attitude-inconsistent than attitude-consistent information, and evidence was found that these affective reactions mediated biased proc essing. Implications of the results for biased assimilation, attitude polarization, and the resiliency of prejudicial attitudes are discusse d.