Distinct Effects of Imagine-Other Versus Imagine-Self Perspective-Taking on Prejudice Reduction

Abstract

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that imagine-other and imagineself perspective-taking have different implications for prejudice reduction when instantiated in intergroup exchanges characterized by the potential for evaluation. We reasoned that because imagine-other perspective-taking is more likely than imagine-self perspective-taking to lead individuals to an unproductive focus on how they themselves are evaluated, imagine-other perspective-taking would hinder prejudice reduction whereas imagine-self perspective-taking would not. Results across two different intergroup relationships were consistent with these predictions and further suggested that the negative implications of imagine-other perspective-taking were mediated by relative meta-stereotype activation, an index of the extent to which individuals focused more on how their own group was viewed than on their view of the outgroup. These findings highlight that considering how individuals' concerns with evaluation guide their thoughts and experiences during intergroup exchanges can help identify the likely effects of different intervention strategies in such contexts.Perspective-taking has long been venerated as an ideal strategy for facilitating more prosocial thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward outgroup members. By virtue of involving a form of cognitive and emotional "reaching out," trying to put oneself in outgroup members' shoes as a means of improving relations with them has both intuitive appeal and face validity. It also has substantial empirical backing, with dozens of studies documenting the effectiveness of perspective-taking in promoting more positive intergroup attitudes and behavior via processes such as

You Don’t Really Love Me, Do You? Negative Effects of Imagine-Other Perspective-Taking on Lower Self-Esteem Individuals’ Relationship Well-Being

“…In contrast, by virtue of more directly prompting individuals to connect with a target by putting themselves in the target's place and using themselves to understand the target, imagine-self perspective-taking seems more apt to facilitate a positive focus on the target without accompanying evaluative concern. Numerous previous studies have yielded data consistent with this prediction (Vorauer & Sasaki, 2013;Vorauer & Sucharyna, 2013).…”

What’s in It for Me? Perspective Taking as an Intervention for Improving Attitudes Toward Diversity Management

“…A survey was distributed to the managers before a session on “conflict management,” which instructed the participants to complete a series of items before the session started that included the manipulation of the independent variable, the measure of negative affect, and various filler items to not give away the purpose of the study. The independent variable (Perspective taking: yes or control) was manipulated by having half of the participants engage in a situational perspective taking, which was based on current perspective taking manipulations (Vorauer & Sasaki, 2014; Vorauer & Sucharyna, 2013). In the perspective taking condition, the participants were given the following instructions: Antidiscrimination laws protect all individuals from workplace discrimination, regardless of one’s background.…”

It’s All About the Self

“…Another context in which the self can be threatened by perspective taking is when one adopts another perspective that implies the potential for negative self-evaluation—for example, by evoking negative meta-stereotypes of one’s in-group (e.g., Vorauer & Sasaki, 2009, 2012, 2014). Researchers conducting experimental perspective-taking studies often instruct participants to take the perspective of a fictional other (e.g., Dovidio et al, 2004; Galinsky & Moskowitz, 2000; Todd & Burgmer, 2013).…”