| Several studies have investigated the extent to which implicit theories predict stereotyping, namely perceived outgroup homogeneity (Levy & Dweck, 1999: Levy. Stroessner, & Dweck, 1998). Entity theorists believe that traits are fixed and immutable, while incremental theorists contend that traits are malleable and can be incrementally gained or lost. At the group level, entity theorists (relative to incremental theorists) perceive outgroups in terms of relevant stereotypes, and in particular, perceive outgroups as highly homogenous (Levy et al., 1998). The current project suggests that the extent to which entity theorists perceive outgroup homogeneity may depend on the stereotype content associated with a salient outgroup exemplar. The Stereotype Content Model (SCM: Fiske. Xu, Cuddy, & Glick, 1999) suggests that two dimensions, competence and warmth, inform outgroup stereotypes. For entity theorists in particular, exposure to a prototypical Black exemplar (i.e., neither competent nor warm) should accentuate perceived outgroup homogeneity, while exposure to an atypical Black exemplar (i.e., competent and/or warm) should attenuate perceived outgroup homogeneity about the larger outgroup. Results lend support for these hypotheses on perceived homogeneity with respect to warmth (but not competence). These findings are discussed in terms of the necessity of intergroup contact and the subsequent implications for improving outgroup attitudes toward typically disparaged groups. |
