Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T14:58:08.402Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Perceptual accuracy and stereotyping in evaluations of persons from different provincial regions within Papua New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Michael O'Driscoll
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Waikato
Frank Core
Affiliation:
Department of Education, University of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Students at the University of Papua New Guinea were shown photographs of persons representing all provincial regions in Papua New Guinea. They were asked to rate each target person on ten evaluative dimensions and to identify the provincial origin of the person in the photograph. The percentage of correct identifications was relatively low, suggesting that respondents were generally unable to assess provincial origins solely on the basis of visual information. Evaluative ratings illustrated a positivity or favourability bias in judgments of the target persons, but, contrary to earlier findings of Shea and Jones (1976), there was little evidence of stereotyping. The results are discussed in the context of social perception and the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ashmore, R., and Del Boca, F. (1981). Conceptual approaches to stereotypes and stereotyping. In Hamilton, D.L. (Ed.). Cognitive processes in stereotyping and intergroup behaviour. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Katz, D., and Braly, K. (1933). Racial stereotypes of one hundred college students. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 28, 280290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lippman, W. (1922). Public opinion. New York: Harcourt, Brace.Google Scholar
McCauley, C., Stitt, C., and Segal, M. (1980). Stereotyping: From prejudice to prediction. Psychological Bulletin, 87, 195208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Driscoll, M., and Feather, N. (1985). Positive prejudice in ethnic attitudes: Australian data. International Journal of Psychology, 20, 95107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenthal, R., and Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the classrom: Teacher expectation and pupils' intellectual development. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.Google Scholar
Sears, D. (1983). The person-positivity bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 233250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shea, J., and Jones, J. (1976). Measures of racial attitudes in educated Papua New Gumeans (Report No.9). Department of Psychology, University of Papua New Guinea.Google Scholar
Schneider, D. (1973). Implicit personality theory: A review: Psychological Bulletin, 79, 294309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snyder, M. (1977). On the self-fulfilling nature of social stereotypes. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Snyder, M. (1981). On the self-prepetuating nature of social stereotypes. In Hamilton, D.L. (Ed.). Cognitive processes in stereotyping and intergroup behaviour. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Tajfel, J. (1982). Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33, 133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Worchel, S., and Cooper, J. (1983). Understanding social psychology. Homewood, Illinois: Dorsey Press.Google Scholar