Racism and the social judgment process: Individual differences in the use of stereotypes

Based on a framework suggested by information integration theory, this stud y examined how prejudice affects the use of stereotypes when forming social judgments. Participants reviewed applications for a minority scholarship a nd rated their liking for each applicant. Embedded in the applications were trait descriptions that varied in the amount, stereotypicality, and valenc e of the information provided. Evaluations by high-prejudice participants w ere more negative than those of low-prejudice participants only when the ap plicant was described by a single negative stereotype; when descriptions co ntained more information that was negative and stereotypic racism was not a factor In addition, responses of both groups became more extreme when more traits were provided, especially when traits were positive. Taken together , the results suggest similarly negative predispositions toward minorities, with those of more prejudiced individuals requiring less negative stereoty pical information to be activated. Future applications of methodology sugge sted by information integration theory in the study of racism are discussed .