Does emotion reappraisal reduce prejudice?

Everybody Hurts: Investigating Emotion Regulation as a Cause and Solution to Prejudice

Dr. Jordan Mansell, NEST Postdoctoral Associate

Friday, March 25, 2022 at 2:00
 
Delivered on Zoom
Meeting ID: 324 9241 8055
Passcode: 229881

There is a well-established relationship between emotion and prejudice. One possible explanation of this relationship is that prejudice is a consequence of individuals’ failure to appropriately regulate their affective responses to outgroup members.

In a recent study, Mansell tested the efficacy of an anti-prejudice intervention using the regulation of emotion. Over 8-weeks, participants received training in positive reappraisal, a method of constructively reframing negative emotional experiences. The goal of this training was to teach participants to reduce the intensity and duration of the emotional reactions with the hope of also reducing their prejudices. The study used a within-between subject experimental design and an adult sample of residents from London and Middlesex County. Change in prejudicial attitudes was assessed using a variety of attitudinal and behavioural measures, as well as physiological assessments. Indicators of participants’ mental health, stress, and well-being were also assessed. An objective of this project was to use the finding to develop better anti-discrimination policies and programs.

Part of the Network for Economics and Social Trends Speaker Series