Effects of Stereotypes and Outcome Dependency on the Processing of Information about Group Members

The present study investigated the effects of stereotype strength and outcome dependency on information processing. Participants' outcomes were either symmetrically independent, symmetrically interdependent, asymmetrically independent, or asymmetrically dependent with respect to a target (a sorority member). Participants whose outcomes depended on the target recalled more stereotype-inconsistent information about her, whereas participants whose outcomes were independent of the target attended to and recalled more stereotype-consistent information. Participants exhibited the least stereotype use when the target was dependent on them. Effects for recall were moderated by stereotype strength. Stronger stereotypes were also associated with more stereotypic target judgments and greater confidence in those judgments, regardless of the dependency relationship. Results are consistent with and extend previous research on outcome dependency and stereotypes.