刻板印象信息表征的模式及其功能

The Patterns and Function of Information Representation in Stereotype

从积极、中性、消极三种不同效价的刻板印象出发,采用回忆—练习范式和再认范式探讨了刻板印象表征中的信息组织模式及其功能。研究表明,不论刻板印象的效价如何,刻板印象的内容都是按照效价一致的原则组织的,即积极信息与积极信息紧密的组织在一起,消极信息与消极信息紧密的组织在一起。这种组织信息的模式在社会认知过程中起着一种平行的促进—抑制作用,从而使人们只需利用较少的认知资源便迅速对某一靶子形成一种评价一致的印象。

Information is organized on the principle of valence - consistency in the stereotype representation according to the study of Quinn et al. （2004）. In their study, however, they simply studied two neutral stereotypes. If there was an extremely strong positive or negative stereotype towards a group, was information still or^nized in way mentioned above？ Given this, this paper studied in detail the patterns of information representation in stereotype and its function by choosing stereotypes of three professions with different valences（namely positive, neutral and negative）. At the same time, the paper verified the following hypotheses： The pattern in which positive information integrated with the positive one while the negative one with the negative one was available in the information representation of stereotype. The pattern had a parallel facilitation - inhibition effect in social cognition. This study used retrieval - practice paradi^n and recognition paradi^n to probe the above hypotheses. 288 subjects were randomly chosen from one university. The procedure of the experiment was planned by a computer program designed with VB 6.0. The experiment was divided into 5 stages, namely, stimulation, study, retrieval- practice, distraction and recognition. The results verified the following hypotheses： Regardless of the valence of stereotypes, the patterns of information representation adhered to the principle of valence - consistency, i.e. positive information integrated closely with the positive one while the negative one with the negative one. Besides, some unexpected results were found, i.e. the retrieval for negative information and the features related to women is better. This study has important implications in the theory of social cognition. It tested for the first time the patterns of information representation in stereotype and its function; it shows that, when there are conflicts among stereotypes towards a target, the process of facilitation and that of inhibition function together, which make it possible that a consistent judffnent is formed by only using fewer cognitive resources; the results of this study tested the typical preference for the negative information and prejudice against women in the course of social perception.