The Effects of Positive Information on Evaluations of Black and White Targets by Black and White Subjects

Abstract

The effects of information that disconfirmed negative stereotypes about blacks on evaluations of target individuals were examined. Black and white subjects rated black or white target individuals whose law school applications contained either moderately or strongly positive information. The gender of targets and subjects was also considered. Results indicated that black targets were evaluated more favorably than comparable white targets, but only by blacks. White subjects were more influenced by the target's gender than by his or her race, favoring male targets over equally qualified female targets.