Improving Intergroup Relations: The Effects of Empathy on Racial Attitudes 1
Abstract
Prior research indicates that information‐based intergroup relations programs are only moderately successful (MGregor, 1993; Stephan & Stephan, 1984). In order to explore a means of increasing the effectiveness of techniques used to change attitudes toward out groups, the current study examined the effects of giving Anglo American students information about everyday incidents of discrimination against African Americans either with or without empathy‐inducing instructions. The results indicate that reading about discrimination against African Americans or inducing empathy reduces in‐group‐out‐group bias in attitudes toward African Americans vs. Anglo Americans. The implications of these findings for models of the effects of empathy on intergroup relations are discussed.
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Controlled laboratory studies instructing subjects to adopt a perspective associated with another person and his or her situation have been shown to reduce bias toward a range of stigmatized groups, including Blacks, and to inhibit the activation of unconscious stereotypes and prejudices.
“Controlled laboratory studies instructing subjects to adopt a perspective associated with another person and his or her situation have been shown to reduce bias toward a range of stigmatized groups,81 including Blacks,82,83 and to inhibit the activation of unconscious stereotypes and prejudices.84”
From Reducing Racial Bias Among Health Care Providers: Lessons from Social-Cognitive Psychology (2007) · cites this paper as [83]
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- Authors
- Finlay, K. A., & Stephan, W. G.
- Affiliations
- New Mexico State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Finlay, Krystina A.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2000-08
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1720-1737
- ISSN
- 0021-9029 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-1816
- OpenAlex
- W2135883807
- Cited by
- 318
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 19.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- empathy induction, intergroup relations, racial attitudes, prejudice reduction, discrimination information, in-group favoritism, outgroup attitudes, African Americans, Anglo-American students, attitude change
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