Exploring the interplay of ego depletion, dichotomous thinking, and prejudice

• Main Author: Eau Yong, Kien Yoong
• Other Authors: Albert Lee Kai Chung
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/63439
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

It is suggested that people exert effort to control prejudice. Ego depletion model of self-control posits the existence of a finite pool of cognitive resources that is crucial for self-regulation, and ego depletion occurs when prior exertion of such resources leads to an impaired performance of a subsequent task that also requires such resources. Capitalizing on Singaporean local population, this experiment examined whether being in a state of ego depletion may promote prejudice toward out-group, specifically, foreign residents. Moreover, the present research aimed to systematically study the mediating role of dichotomous thinking in the ego depletion effect of prejudice. In the study, participants were randomly assigned to a handgrip exerciser task as either induced a state of ego depletion or not. Then, depleted and non-depleted participants completed a battery of validated measures of prejudice and thinking style preference. The results did not lend support to our hypotheses. Possibilities for the null findings are discussed.