1. Media Stereotypes and Perceived Facial Threat
Brittany Waslaski
Minnesota State University Moorhead

2. Introduction
Facial expressions are important in figuring out people’s emotional state (Schmidt & Cohn, 2001)
Stereotypes have been found to affect people’s decoding of facial affect (Hugenberg & Bodenhausen, 2003)
Participants who read about dark skinned criminals had a higher perceived facial threat toward dark skinned strangers than light skinned strangers (Arendt, Steindl, & Vitouch, 2014)

3. Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that reading stereotypic tabloid articles about crimes committed by dark and light skinned women offenders will lead to an increase in perceived facial threat in dark skinned women compared to light skinned women.

4. Method

5. Participants
Thirty students, both male and female, from lower level MSUM psychology courses
Receive extra credit based on approval by their instructor
Each participant will participate in each condition, but in different orders
All participants will be treated according to the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association

6. Design This study will utilize a 2x2 within subjects factorial design
First condition – nationality and light skin color mentioned
Second condition – nationality and dark skin color mentioned
Third condition – nationality not mentioned, but light skin color mentioned
Fourth condition- nationality not mentioned, but dark skin color mentioned
Dependent variable is perceived facial threat
Someone’s understanding or interpretation of the face as a threat

7. Materials Four stereotypic tabloid articles
7s clips of light skinned women and dark skinned women
Faces change from 0% angry to 100% angry
Participants will be instructed to click space bar when they feel expression has changed from non hostile to hostile
Demographic questionnaire

8. Procedure Informed consent will be obtained
Participants will read the stereotypic tabloid article and then watch a 7s clip of a woman’s face turning from not angry to angry rating it for hostility
Participants will do this four times to cover each condition
Participants will then take a demographic questionnaire
Written debriefing form will be provided and all questions will be answered
Blue card will be awarded and be thanked for their time
Session will last about 15 minutes

9. Results 2x2 within subjects factorial design
Time for each set of article and clip will be averaged and medians will be obtained
Value higher than median= Higher perceived facial threat
Single factor repeated measures ANOVA will be performed
Means and standard deviations will be computed for each condition