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Cited by 834Social and Intergroup PsychologyDeath Anxiety and Social ExclusionBehavioral Health and Interventions

Out of mind but back in sight: Stereotypes on the rebound.

Macrae, C. Neil, Bodenhausen, Galen V., Milne, Alan B., Jetten, Jolanda·1994·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.67.5.808
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Abstract

For a variety of reasons, social perceivers may often attempt to actively inhibit stereotypic thoughts before their effects impinge on judgment and behavior. However, research on the psychology of mental control raises doubts about the efficacy of this strategy. Indeed, this work suggests that when people attempt to suppress unwanted thoughts, these thoughts are likely to subsequently reappear with even greater insistence than if they had never been suppressed (i.e., a ''rebound'' effect). The present research comprised an investigation of the extent to which this kind of rebound effect extends to unwanted stereotypic thoughs about others. The results provided strong support for the existence of this effect. Relative to control subjects (i.e., stereotype users), stereotype suppressors responded more pejoratively to a stereotyped target on a range of dependent measures. We discuss our findings in the wider context of models of mind, thought suppression, and social stereotyping.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.67.5.808

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  • Stereotype suppression can result in increased social distancing, potentially undermining the interpersonal quality of the encounter.

    “Stereotype suppression also can result in increased social distancing, thus potentially undermining the interpersonal quality of the encounter.61”

    From Reducing Racial Bias Among Health Care Providers: Lessons from Social-Cognitive Psychology (2007) · cites this paper as [61]

  • Experiments testing the impact of instructions to avoid stereotyping have shown very short-term benefit with a rebound effect, in which the stereotype later recurred at a higher rate than among control groups who were not instructed to suppress.

    “Experiments testing the impact of instructions to avoid stereotyping have shown very short-term benefit with a “rebound effect,” in which the stereotype later recurred at a higher rate than among the control groups who were not instructed to suppress.61–64”

    From Reducing Racial Bias Among Health Care Providers: Lessons from Social-Cognitive Psychology (2007) · cites this paper as [61]

  • Stereotype suppression can lead to a number of negative, unintended consequences.

    “Stereotype suppression (e.g., trying to push away any stereotypic thoughts that arise while in the presence of an African-American patient) can lead to a number of negative, unintended consequences.”

    From Reducing Racial Bias Among Health Care Providers: Lessons from Social-Cognitive Psychology (2007) · cites this paper as [61]

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Authors
Macrae, C. N., Bodenhausen, G. V., Milne, A. B., & Jetten, J.
Affiliations
  • Cardiff University (GB)
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1994-11
Volume
67
Issue
5
Pages
808-817
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.67.5.808
OpenAlex
W1990263300
Cited by
834
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 37
FWCI
53.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Keywords
thought suppression, stereotype suppression, social stereotyping, mental control, intrusive thoughts, models of mind

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