Honors Theses
Advisor
Erin M. O’Mara, Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
Publication Date
4-2016
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Do stereotypes influence how we perceive physical stimuli in our social world? The current project addresses this question by examining whether people differentially perceive targets based on whether a stereotype-based threat accompanies the target. Previous research finds that people evaluate physically threatening stimuli (e.g., spiders, aggressive people) as closer than non-threatening stimuli (Cole Balceitis, & Dunning, 2012). However, less is known about the role of stereotypes in activating a threat response. It was predicted that participants who are made aware of the threatening status of a group will perceive a member of that group as standing physically closer. Overall, the results indicated that the feeling of threat influenced distance estimates only when participants felt they were in the real presence of an individual who met the stereotype of a possible disease carrier (e.g., stereotype consistent condition). This study adds to the growing literature on social factors that influence embodied cognition and provides further support for the ability of threat to influence distance perceptions.
Permission Statement
This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes
Keywords
Undergraduate research
Disciplines
Psychology
eCommons Citation
Maffett, Anissa J., "Too Close for Comfort: The Effects of Threatening Stereotypes on Perceptions of Proximity" (2016). Honors Theses. 144.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/144
