Where do gender stereotypes come from? Testing a model of perceptual signaling Öffentlichkeit

Abstract

The orthodox view of stereotypes is that they are culturally transmitted. Here, we propose and tested an alternative account based on perceptual transmission, whereby perceived facial dominance signals intelligence. In Experiment 1, adults (N = 55) rated computer-generated faces according to gender and various traits (e.g., dominance, attractiveness, and trustworthiness). More dominant faces were judged as smarter than less dominant faces and, crucially, dominance was the only variable that mediated the gender-intelligence link. In Experiment 2, we gave 6- to 10-year-olds (N = 88) a two-alternative forced-choice task where children judged which of two faces was smarter. Face pairs either differed in dominance, gender, or both. Children judged more dominant faces as smarter than less dominant faces. Moreover, they judged more dominant female faces as smarter than less dominant male faces. Suggesting a possible override of the cultural stereotype. These effects contrasted with judgments of niceness. Taken together, our findings suggest a specific role for facial dominance in signaling intelligence.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Hypothesis 4

Experiment 1. 5

Methods 5

Results 5

Experiment 2. 9

Methods 9

Participants 9

Materials 10

Design & Procedure 10

Results 12

Discussion 17

Dominance cues are important when making inferences about individuals 17

Dominance and gender cues are important when judging a prosocial trait 18

Why specifically dominance? 19

Dominance acting as perceptual signal 20

References 23

Supplemental Material 31

 

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Degree	M.A.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social
Stichwort	Intelligence Gender Stereotype Facial Features Stereotype Development Dominance
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Stella F. Lourenco, Emory University
Committee Members	Lynne Nygaard, Emory University Arber Tasimi, Emory University

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