Diversity May Help the Uninterested: Evidence that Exposure to Counter-stereotypes Promotes Cognitive Reflection for People Low (But not High) in Need for Cognition

Damer, Ekaterina; Webb, Thomas L.; Crisp, Richard J.

doi:10.1177/1368430218811250

Diversity May Help the Uninterested: Evidence that Exposure to Counter-stereotypes Promotes Cognitive Reflection for People Low (But not High) in Need for Cognition

Damer, Ekaterina; Webb, Thomas L.; Crisp, Richard J.

Authors

Ekaterina Damer

Thomas L. Webb

Professor Richard Crisp richard.j.crisp@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

Previous theorizing and research has linked exposure to counter-stereotypical diversity (e.g., an Oxford-educated bricklayer) to enhanced cognitive performance and creativity. However, it is unclear whether people’s motivation to cognitively engage with the counter-stereotypical information (i.e., need for cognition [NFC]) influences this effect. Across three experiments (N = 887) we found consistent support for the idea that exposure to counter-stereotypes (CSTs) promotes cognitive reflection for people low in NFC (d+ = .34). In contrast, people high in NFC showed decreased cognitive reflection after being exposed to CSTs (d+ = −.18), although the evidence for the latter effect was weak. These findings suggest that exposure to CSTs can promote cognitive reflection unless people have a strong desire to understand and predict outcomes and events, in which case exposure to CSTs may backfire. Taken together, we conclude that motivation to engage in cognitive activity may be an important consideration for research and interventions involving social and cultural diversity.

Citation

Damer, E., Webb, T. L., & Crisp, R. J. (2019). Diversity May Help the Uninterested: Evidence that Exposure to Counter-stereotypes Promotes Cognitive Reflection for People Low (But not High) in Need for Cognition. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 22(8), 1079-1093. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430218811250

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Oct 15, 2018
Online Publication Date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication Date	Dec 1, 2019
Deposit Date	Oct 23, 2018
Publicly Available Date	Nov 20, 2018
Journal	Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
Print ISSN	1368-4302
Electronic ISSN	1461-7188
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	22
Issue	8
Pages	1079-1093
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430218811250

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Copyright Statement
Damer, Ekaterina Webb, Thomas L. & Crisp, Richard J. (2019). Diversity May Help the Uninterested: Evidence that Exposure to Counter-stereotypes Promotes Cognitive Reflection for People Low (But not High) in Need for Cognition. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations 22(8): 1079-1093. © The Author(s) 2018. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.