Diversity: from Stereotype to Discrimination Self-fullfilling Prophecies

Stereotypes come true A study by Word, Zanna & Cooper 1974 This study examined how stereotypes about dark- skinned people can become true. It was documented in a range of earlier studies that “white” Americans held a negative perception “black” Americans. Within the context of a job interview it was investigated whether this negative perception would cause white interviewers to behave differently towards black candidates than they did towards white candidates. These different behaviours would then explain why black candidates would perform objectively less well in such interview situations.

The approach The questions asked by the investigation were tested by two studies: In Study 1 white test persons were informed that they should interview four candidates for a job. 45 minutes were available for all the interviews. For the evaluation one interview with a white and one with a black candidate were used. The candidates were not informed of the hypothesis being investigated. The length of the interview, speech errors and non-verbal behaviour were recorded as measurable components. In Study 2 only white candidates were interviewed (by white interviewers). The interview behaviour towards the candidates was varied. Some of the participants were interviewed like black candidates, whilst others were interviewed like the white candidates in Study 1. The most important dependent variable was the performance of the candidates, which was assessed by independent evaluators.

Result Study 1 revealed that the white interviewers treated the black and white candidates differently. The interviewer sat closer to the white interviewee and allowed more time for the conversation, and in addition made fewer speech errors. (white) (black) Candidates Fig. 7.1: Study 1: average non-verbal behaviour towards black and white candidates

Result Study 2: The candidates who were interviewed like the black ones in Study 1 (the interviewer sat further away, allowed less time and made more speech errors) displayed less adequate behaviour than the candidates who were interviewed like the white ones in Study 1. (black) (white) Treated like __________ candidate in Study 1 Fig. 7.2: Study 2: average performance of the candidates, who were interviewed like a black or like a white candidate

Summary The results of both studies conformed to the hypothesis!! Self-fulfilling prophecies can cause black people to perform worse that white people. The differing performances, that were comprehensively documented, can be seen as a result of the interviewers behaving differently towards the black and towards the white candidates. Alone the expectations that people have about certain characteristics of an object of perception, can lead to the person behaving in such a way that the object of perception actually exhibits the assumed characteristics. Stereotypes become consolidated through self-fulfilling prophecies and “seemingly” confirmed.

Exercise Observe your own behaviour during a conversation with: a person of the opposite sex with a homosexual person, if possible a person who has a physical disability a person from a different ethnic background to yours Do you behave differently? Are you more agitated, quieter, more excited, calmer? Do you speak differently (louder, slower, more broken)? How close do you get to the particular person? Do you listen to the person seriously? To whom are you more friendly, courteous? To whom are you more matter-of-fact, reserved? Compare each conversation to one with a person of your own gender or other group you belong to!