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Er-rafiy & Brauer, 2013, Experiment 3: Emphasizing diversity on posters around the school decreased social distance and bias towards Arabs among French high schoolers

Reference:

Er-rafiy, A., & Brauer, M. (2013). Modifying perceived variability: four laboratory and field experiments show the effectiveness of a ready-to-be-used prejudice intervention. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(4), 840-853.
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Summary:

Eight French high schools were randomly assigned to have posters emphasizing diversity among Arabs displayed on classroom walls and outside the principal’s office for two weeks, or to have no such posters. The posters depicted individual Arabs with heterogeneous characteristics balanced in valence (e.g., “optimistic,” “stingy”) and included the slogan, “What makes us the same—is that we are all different.” Several weeks later, students in treatment schools, as compared to students in control schools, (1) reported thinking that Arabs are more variable; (2) showed less in-group bias, viewing Arabs and French as more similar in traits (egoistic, aggressive, and hardworking); (3) showed less social distance from Arabs, e.g., reporting greater acceptance of being supervised by an Arab person and less discomfort dancing with one; (4) showed less prejudice, as assessed by the Modern Racism Scale adapted so Arab-Muslims were the target group; and (5) were more willing to sign a petition supporting reduced discrimination against Arabs 61.1% vs. 31.3%). (for related laboratory studies, see Brauer & Er-rafiy, 2011; Brauer, Er-rafiy, Kawakami, & Phils, 2012; see also Er-rafiy & Brauer, 2012).

Psychological Process:

What Desired Meaning is At Stake?

What is the Person Trying to Understand?

Other People and Groups

Approach to Desired Meaning

What about it?

Changing beliefs about social groups and group conflict

How?

Psychological Question Addressed

Can groups change?Can groups change?

Psychological Question Addressed

Can groups change?

Psychological Process 2:

Need

What is the Person Trying to Understand?

What Desired Meaning is At Stake?

What Desired Meaning is At Stake?

What About it?

Approach to Desired Meaning

Approach to Desired Meaning

How?

Psychological Question Addressed

Psychological Question Addressed

Psychological Question Addressed

Psychological Process 3:

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What Desired Meaning is At Stake?

Approach to Desired Meaning

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How?

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Social Area:

Intervention Technique:

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Posted By:

Greg Walton & Timothy Wilson