Gringart et al., 2008: Reflecting on and counterarguing stereotypes and discrimination towards older workers increased positive views, preference, and likelihood for hiring older workers among Australian hiring managers
Reference:
Gringart, E., Helmes, E., & Speelman, C. (2008). Harnessing cognitive dissonance to promote positive attitudes toward older workers in Australia. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38(3), 751-778.
Download PDFSummary:
Australian hiring managers received letters emphasizing (1) common stereotypes about older workers and empirically based counter evidence and (2) information about hiring discrimination against older workers, how this violates national norms, and a booklet with names of hiring managers who oppose age discrimination, and an invitation to add their own name to this list to be distributed to the broader community. As compared to hiring managers who received only (1) or (2) or neither, those who received both reported over the next few weeks expressed more positive views of older workers, a greater preference for hiring older workers, and being more likely to hire older workers.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
To See the Self as AdequateApproach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Link Self-Integrity to a Behavior or Attitude to Motivate Positive ChangePsychological Question Addressed
Did I say I would do it?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Heading
Did I say I would do it?Social Area:
Intergroup relationships
Intervention Technique:
Increasing commitment through action, pre-commitment