PREJUDICE REDUCTION STRATEGIES AND THEIR EFFFECT ON INTERRACIAL INTERACTIONS

With increased awareness of implicit bias in both research and media, understanding ways to reduce the negative effects of such bias has become of practical importance. The present research examined how implicit bias reduction strategies affect the experience of an implied interracial interaction. Results indicated that self-regulation learning (SRL) and counterstereotyping (CS) differentially impact how individuals experience an interracial interaction depending on their internal motivation to respond without prejudice (IMS). Specifically, results showed that individuals low in IMS self-disclosed more, were more promotion focused, and less physically avoidant following CS training relative to SRL training. At high levels of IMS, however, individuals self-disclosed more, were more promotion focused, and less physically avoidant following SRL training relative to CS. This evidence suggests that the specific processes involved in training strategies interact with IMS to differentially impact interracial interactions. Implications for future research and prejudice interventions are discussed