Lack of control leads to less stereotypic perceptions of groups: An individual difference perspective (*)

 

ANA GUINOTE (**)

 

ABSTRACT

One study was conducted to analyze the effect of perceived control over one's life on group perception. Participants were presented with abstract and exemplar information regarding a group of 100 lawyers and answered a questionnaire with questions regarding group perception and perceived control. Considering that lack of control leads to effortful information seeking, it was expected, and found that participants who perceived less control over their lives perceived the group of lawyers in a less stereotypic and more variable way than participants who perceived more control over their lives. This result is in line with results showing that lack of control leads to increased perceived group variability. The role of motivation on group perception is discussed.

Key words: Control deprivation, perceived group variability, stereotypes, individual differences.

 

RESUMO

O efeito da percepção do controlo sobre a sua vida na percepção de grupo é analisado num estudo. Neste estudo, os participantes recebem informação abstracta e exemplar acerca de um grupo de 100 advogados, após o que respondem a um questionário com medidas de percepção de grupo e percepção de controlo. Considerando que a falta de controlo está associada a um processamento de informação vigilante, esperávamos que pessoas que percebem menos controlo sobre a sua vida percebam o grupo de advogados de forma menos estereotípica e mais variável que pessoas que percebem mais controlo sobre a sua vida. Os resultados confirmam esta hipótese, indo ao encontro de estudos prévios, segundo os quais falta de controlo tem como consequência um aumento da percepção de variabilidadede grupo. É discutido o papel de variáveis motivacionais na percepção de grupo.

Palavras-chave: Privação de controlo, percepção de variabilidade de grupo, estereótipos, diferenças individuais.

 

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(*) This research was supported by Grant PRAXIS/ PCSH/PSI/83/96 from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal.

Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to Ana Guinote, ana_guinote@yahoo.com

(**) Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa, CIS.