Stereotyping and self-presentation: Effects of gender stereotype activation

• Main Authors: CHIU, Chi-Yue, HONG, Ying-Yi, LAM, Ivy Ching-Man, FU, Jeanne Ho-Ying, TONG, Jennifer Yuk-Yue, LEE, Venus Sau-Lai
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 1998
• Subjects: gender; self-stereotyping; stereotyping; Gender and Sexuality; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/284; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/1283/viewcontent/Chiu_etal_Stereotype_GPIR1998.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Recent research has shown that the presence of stereotype-relevant environmental cues can inadvertently bias people's judgments of others in the direction of the stereotype. The present research demonstrated analogous activation effects on self-stereotyping. In two experiments, the effects of stereotype activation on the tendencies to stereotype others and to self-stereotype were examined. Experiment 1 tested whether incidental exposure to gender-related materials might activate gender stereotypes and hence affect perception of another person. Experiment 2 investigated gender stereotype activation effects on female and male high school students' self-presentation behaviors. The results showed that incidental exposure to stereotype-relevant environmental cues increased both stereotyping and self-stereotyping tendencies. The findings were discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the basic principles of knowledge activation and application, and for reducing stereotyping and self-stereotyping.