The Behavioural Effects of Perspective-Taking: The Influence of Group Membership and Stereotype Threat

Abstract

Perspective-taking induced self-other overlap in cognitive representations has been lauded as a mechanism which promotes social bonds. The application of self (perspective-taker) to other (target of perspective-taking) leads to reduced stereotyping and prejudice, while the application of other to self increases the stereotypical behaviour of the perspective-taker (in line with the target stereotype). However, three experiments presented in this thesis suggest that this is not always the case when perspective-taker and target belong to different stereotyped groups.
Focusing on the stereotype of women and maths, Experiment 1 found that perspective-taking when the perspective-taker and target belonged to different stereotyped groups did not result in behaviour consistent with the target-stereotype. Furthermore, evidence of behavioural contrast was found. Experiment 2 further examined the behavioural effects of perspective-taking when the perspective-taker was negatively stereotyped and the target was positively stereotyped; consistent with the first experiment, contrast effects were found following perspective-taking. Given the findings of the first two experiments, hypotheses regarding the outcome of an intervention designed to reduce stereotype threat using perspective-taking were revised (Experiment 3). Findings of Experiment 3 were consistent with Experiments 1 and 2, in that perspective-taking when the target was positively stereotyped did not reduce stereotype threat for women (negatively stereotyped). The findings of the three experiments were interpreted in line with the prime-to-behaviour literature, and specifically, behavioural contrast effects following priming with exemplars.