The Influence of the Selection Context on Negative and Positive Discrimination

Research on how the social context of selection can influence the decision-making process and can provoke (negative and positive) discrimination is very limited. Based on two behavioral science frameworks (i.e., moral self-regulation and psychological distance), we suggest that a previous, unrelated selection decision and whether or not the decision was made for the own team, would influence the current selection decision. In particular, it was examined whether recruiters expressed a stronger preference for a white (vs. an equally qualified Arab candidate) if the decision was taken after an Arab (vs. white) candidate was recruited in a previous task and if the decision had to be taken for the own team (vs. another team in the organization). Finally, it was examined whether both factors strengthened each other. The results of an experiment showed that recruiters had a stronger preference for the white (Arab) candidate if they had already recruited an Arab (white) candidate in a previous task and if the decision had to be taken for the own (other) team. The assumed interaction effect was not significant.status: accepte