PRONENESS TO PREJUDICED RESPONSES - TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE AUTHENTICITY OF SELF-REPORTED DISCREPANCIES

Three studies investigated the authenticity of prejudice-related discr epancies. A comprehensive discrepancy questionnaire was developed (Stu dy 1), which yielded small as well as large discrepancy scores. Study 2 indicated that discrepancy scores were stable, and personality could not account for the relation between discrepancies and their affectiv e consequences. In Study 3, low-prejudice participants responded to jo kes about Blacks under high or low distraction. Behavioral validation for self-reported discrepancies was found, such that participants with larger discrepancies evaluated the jokes more favorably under high th an low distraction, but participants with smaller discrepancies provid ed equally unfavorable evaluations in both distraction conditions. Imp lications for understanding people's abilities to avoid potentially pr ejudiced responses and their self-insight into such abilities are disc ussed.