Multicultural experiences reduce intergroup bias through epistemic unfreezing.
Abstract
In 6 studies, we systematically explored for the 1st time the ameliorative effects of multicultural experience on intergroup bias and investigated the role of epistemic unfreezing as the motivational mechanism underlying these effects. We found that multicultural exposure led to a reduction in stereotype endorsement (Studies 1, 4, and 6), symbolic racism (Study 5), and discriminatory hiring decisions (Study 2). We further demonstrated that experimental exposure to multicultural experience caused a reduction in need for cognitive closure (NFCC; Studies 3 and 6) and that the ameliorative effects of multiculturalism experience on intergroup bias were fully mediated by lower levels of NFCC (Studies 4, 5, and 6). The beneficial effects of multiculturalism were found regardless of the targeted stereotype group (African Americans, Ethiopians, homosexuals, and native Israelis), regardless of whether multicultural experience was measured or manipulated, and regardless of the population sampled (Caucasian Americans or native Israelis), demonstrating the robustness of this phenomenon. Overall, these results demonstrate that multicultural experience plays a critical role in increasing social tolerance through its relationship to motivated cognitive processes.
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Social perceptiveness is shaped by previous experiences such as multicultural encounters.
“Social perceptiveness is shaped by previous experiences such as multicultural encounters (Leung, Maddux, Galinsky, & Chiu, 2008;Tadmor, Hong, Chao, Wiruchnipawan, & Wang, 2012) that help individuals to better interpret and read social processes present in teams (Swenson & Casmir, 1998).”
From Leading diversity: Towards a theory of functional leadership in diverse teams. (2020) · cites this paper as Tadmor, Hong, Chao, Wiruchnipawan, & Wang, 2012
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Leading diversity: Towards a theory of functional leadership in diverse teams.
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- Authors
- Tadmor, C. T., Hong, Y.-Y., Chao, M. M., Wiruchnipawan, F., & Wang, W.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HK)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2012
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 750-772
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2128057525
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 22.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
- Rare & Special e-Zone (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Union Marie Curie International Reintegration Program (239160)
- Henry Crown Institute of Business Research
- Ministry of Education (Tier 1: RG2/08, M52010042)
- Research Grants Council (640310)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- multicultural experience, intergroup bias, need for cognitive closure, stereotype endorsement, symbolic racism, social tolerance, motivated cognition, prejudice reduction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Black or African American, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Decision Making, Female, Group Processes, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Prejudice, Social Perception, Stereotyping, Cultural Diversity, White People, Young Adult, Racism
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