Power Effects on the Activation and Application of Meta-stereotypes: The Mediating Role of Perspective Taking

Power Effects on the Activation and Application of Meta-stereotypes: The Mediating Role of Perspective Taking

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the effect of power on the activation and application of meta-stereotypes using different power-priming operations to measure the implicit and explicit effects of meta-stereotypes. In Experiments 1 and 2, we found that low power led to the activation and application of meta-stereotypes. Furthermore, we also found no difference between the varying power groups in the activation and application of meta-stereotype interference items. Moreover, the study’s findings indicated a significant difference in the valence of meta-stereotypes, which suggests that the participants activated and applied more negative meta-stereotypes. Finally, Experiment 3 yielded the negative effect of power on meta-stereotypes, which was mediated by perspective-taking. The results suggest that people with low power have more meta-stereotypes because they use out-of-group perception.