Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others

The extent to which stigmatized interaction partners engender perceivers' t hreat reactions (i.e., stigma-threat hypothesis) was examined. Experiments 1 and 2 included the manipulation of stigma using facial birthmarks. Experi ment 3 included manipulations of race and socioeconomic status. Threat resp onses were measured physiologically, behaviorally, and subjectively. Percei vers interacting with stigmatized partners exhibited cardiovascular reactiv ity consistent with threat and poorer performance compared with participant s interacting with nonstigmatized partners, who exhibited challenge reactiv ity. In Experiment 3, intergroup contact moderated physiological reactivity such that participants who reported more contact with Black persons exhibi ted less physiological threat when interacting with them. These results sup port the stigma-threat hypothesis and suggest the utility of a biopsychosoc ial approach to the study of stigma and related constructs.