WHEN THE MIND IS OTHERWISE ENGAGED - RESOURCE DEPLETION AND SOCIAL STEREOTYPING

This study investigated the effects of resource depletion on stereotyp ing. Participants were instructed to form an impression of a target, a nd whilst performing this task, they overhead a tape-recorded conversa tion. The conversation was manipulated so that it it was more or less relevant to the participants. Results in general supported the predict ion that when participants eavesdrop on a relevant conversation, atten tional capacity will be diminished, and target evaluations will be ste reotypic in implication. Findings are discussed in terms of contempora ry treatments after of stereotyping. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.