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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Dec;1(12):920-927.
doi: 10.1038/s41562-017-0243-x. Epub 2017 Nov 27.

Relating pattern deviancy aversion to stigma and prejudice

Anton Gollwitzer  1 , Julia Marshall  2 , Yimeng Wang  2 , John A Bargh  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Relating pattern deviancy aversion to stigma and prejudice

Anton Gollwitzer et al. Nat Hum Behav. 2017 Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

What predicts people's powerful and universal dislike of social deviancy? Across six studies, aversion towards non-social pattern deviancy, for example, a row of triangles with one triangle out of line, predicted aversion towards stigmatized individuals, social norm breakers, statistically negative and positive deviants, and a racial minority group (Black individuals). The relationship between pattern deviancy and social deviancy aversion emerged across explicit and implicit measures, across cultures (United States and China), and was of a moderately large magnitude (meta-analytic effect size: d = 0.68). Studies 7 and 8 examined developmental differences. Older but not younger children's pattern deviancy aversion related to their dislike of social norm breakers. Although non-social pattern deviancy and social deviancy judgements may seem distinct given their differing domains, people's aversion towards non-social pattern deviancy and social deviancy consistently overlapped. These findings raise the possibility that pattern deviancy aversion plays an important role in stigmatization and prejudice.

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Comment in

  • Human aversion to differentness.
    Sigelman C. Sigelman C. Nat Hum Behav. 2017 Dec;1(12):862-863. doi: 10.1038/s41562-017-0245-8. Nat Hum Behav. 2017. PMID: 31024178 No abstract available.

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