Psychological essentialism, implicit theories, and intergroup relations

Haslam, N, Bastian, B, Bain, P and Kashima, Y (2006) Psychological essentialism, implicit theories, and intergroup relations. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 9 1: 63-76.


Author Haslam, N
Bastian, B
Bain, P
Kashima, Y
Title Psychological essentialism, implicit theories, and intergroup relations
Journal name Group Processes & Intergroup Relations  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2006-01
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1177/1368430206059861
Volume number 9
Issue number 1
ISSN 1368-4302
Start page 63
End page 76
Total pages 4
Place of publication London, U.K.
Publisher Sage
Language eng
Subject 1701 Psychology
Abstract Research on implicit person theories shows that beliefs about the malleability of human attributes have important implications for social cognition, interpersonal behavior, and intergroup relations. We argue that these implications can be understood within the framework of psychological essentialism, which extends work on implicit theories in promising directions. We review evidence that immutability beliefs covary with a broader set of essentialist beliefs, and that these essentialist beliefs are associated with stereotyping and prejudice. We then present recent studies indicating that associations between implicit person theories and stereotyping may be explained in terms of essentialist beliefs, implying a significant role for these beliefs in the psychology of group perception. Finally, we propose ways in which research and theory on essentialist beliefs might clarify and advance research on implicit person theories.
Keyword Essentialism
Lay theories
Prejudice
Stereotypes
Q-Index Code C1

 
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