Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The attenuation of distinctiveness-based illusory correlations in judgments of groups was investigated. Subjects read about desirable and undesirable behaviors performed by members of either two or three groups. The behavioral information about two of the groups (A and B) was identical in all conditions, Group B and undesirable behavior occurring infrequently. When only information about Groups A and B was presented, results replicated the usual distinctiveness-based illusory correlation. That is, judgments of Group B were biased to be more negative than those of Group A. In three other conditions, behavioral descriptions of a third group (C) were also presented. The pattern of information about Group C differed, but in each case it was designed to undermine the basis on which illusory correlations are formed. In all three conditions the additional information about a third group attenuated, but did not eliminate, the illusory correlation evident in the two-group case. The attenuation involved changes in judgments of Group B members but not Group A members.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Acorn, D. A. , Hamilton, D. L. , & Sherman, S. J. (1988). Generalization of biased perceptions of groups based on illusory correlations. Social Cognition, 6, 345-372.

Chapman, L. J. (1967). Illusory correlation in observational report. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 6, 151-155.

Chapman, L. J. , & Chapman, J. P. (1967). Genesis of popular but erroneous psychodiagnostic observations. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 72, 193-204.

Hamilton, D. L. , Dugan, P. M. , & Trolier, T. K. (1985). The formation of stereotypic beliefs: Further evidence for distinctiveness-based illusory correlation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 5-17.

Hamilton, D. L. , & Gifford, R. K. (1976). Illusory correlation in interpersonal perception: A cognitive basis of stereotypic judgments. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 12, 392-407.

Hamilton, D. L. , & Sherman, S. J. (1989). Illusory correlations: Implications for stereotype theory and research. In D. Bar-Tal , C. F. Graumann , A. W. Kruglanski , & W. Stroebe (Eds.), Stereotypes and prejudice: Changing conceptions (pp. 59-82). New York: Springer-Verlag.

Hamilton, D. L. , & Trolier, T. K. (1986). Stereotypes and stereotyping: An overview of the cognitive approach. In J. Dovidio & S. L. Gaertner (Eds.), Prejudice, discrimination, and racism (pp. 127-163). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

Regan, D. T. , & Crawley, D. M. (1984, August). Illusory correlation and stereotype formation: Replication and extension. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto.

Rosenberg, S. , Nelson, C. , & Vivekananthan, P. S. (1968). A multidimensional approach to the structure of personality impression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 9, 283-294.

10.

Sanbonmatsu, D. M. , Shavitt, S. , Sherman, S. J. , & Roskos-Ewoldsen, D. R. (1987). Illusory correlation in the perception of performance by self or a salient other. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 23, 518-543.

11.

Sanbonmatsu, D. M. , Sherman, S. J. , & Hamilton, D. L. (1987). Illusory correlation in the perception of individuals and groups. Social Cognition, 5, 1-25.

12.

Schaller, M. , & Maass, A. (1989). Illusory correlations and social categorization: Toward an integration of motivational and cognitive factors in stereotype formation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 709-721.

13.

Spears, R. , van der Pligt, J. , & Eiser, J. R. (1985). Illusory correlation in the perception of group attitudes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 863-875.

14.

Spears, R. , van der Pligt, J. , & Eiser, J. R. (1986). Generalizing the illusory correlation effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1127-1134.

Attenuation of Illusory Correlation

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References