Question

- Researchers from the University of Toronto Scarborough conducted two experiments that looked at the effect of two different types of motivational intervention on prejudice reduction. Summarize the two types of motivational intervention that were used in their experiments.

-If programs focusing on reducing prejudice are actually increasing prejudice, how should the issue of prejudice be addressed?

-Even though researchers now know that reducing prejudice needs to focus on motivational interventions that are more personal in nature, the authors suggest that controlling prejudice reaction practices are tempting. What benefits do controlling motivational interventions have for prejudice programs?

Answer 1

1. The two types of motivational intervention that the researchers used are

• controlled form (telling people what they should do)
• personal form (explaining why being non-prejudiced is enjoyable and personally valuable).

controlled form,  participants were randomly assigned one of two brochures to read: an autonomy brochure or a controlling brochure. These brochures discussed a new campus initiative to reduce prejudice. A third group was offered no motivational instructions to reduce prejudice

Ironicaaly the results were that; those who read the controlling brochure later demonstrated more prejudice than those who had not been urged to reduce prejudice.

Personal form, participants were randomly assigned a questionnaire, designed to stimulate personal or controlling motivation to reduce prejudice.

The results were that those who were exposed to controlling messages regarding prejudice reduction showed significantly more prejudice than those who did not receive any controlling cues.

this might be because when interventions eliminate people’s freedom to value diversity on their own terms, they may actually be creating hostility toward the targets of prejudice.

2.Addressing the issue:

Society’s norms or expectations of what is acceptable behavior greatly influence when people will try to reduce their prejudice and why they do so. Society’s norms or expectations of what is acceptable behavior greatly influence when people will try to reduce their prejudice and why they do so

People can be motivated to reduce their prejudice when they are made aware of the conflict between the values they hold and their actions. When people become aware of this hypocrisy, it can make them feel dissatisfied with themselves and motivate them to act in line with their values and reduce their prejudice.

A research shows that people who are aware of their automatic prejudices and who feel bad about them can learn to associate certain stimuli with prejudiced responses they have had in the past and their negative feelings about having had such responses. When these stimuli are present in a subsequent situation, they can trigger people to slow down and respond more carefully so that they can reduce their prejudiced responses

3.According to Dr. Legault, “Controlling prejudice reduction practices are tempting because they are quick and easy to implement. They tell people how they should think and behave and stress the negative consequences of failing to think and behave in desirable ways.”