Negative Stereotype-Conducive Behavior

There have been many authors to write about negative stereotyping and the effects they may have upon others. Margaret C. Campbell and Gina S Mohr have taken the research to a new level and establish that there is indeed a link between negative stereotype activation (seeing someone overweight) and stereotype conducive behavior (eating more). The experiments completed throughout the article provide substantial evidence that proves the mere sight of someone overweight can trigger someone to complete an activity connected to that stereotype, such as eating more indulgent foods. The article, published as Seeing Is Eating: How and When Activation of a Negative Stereotype Increases Stereotype-Conducive Behavior, is relevant because there is an ever

Each one providing a stronger association between the negative stereotype activation of seeing someone overweight, and the stereotype conducive behavior of eating. Throughout all five experiment the study participants were shown digital images of overweight individuals, healthy weight individuals, and neutral objects such as trees, lamps and geography pictures. The first test established that the individuals who seen the picture of the overweight individual took significantly more indulgent food than those who seen the other pictures. Those in the second experiment rated their health goal commitment. Those exposed to the overweight prime eat significantly more cookies and rated their health goals lower than those of the neutral prime. Providing evidence that someone exposed to a negative stereotype may take on the negative stereotype goal. Experiments three – five tested varying levels of countervailing goal to see if the goal interfered with the stereotype conducive behavior. When the subject’s health goal commitments were accessible they eat less indulgent foods but if it was not readily accessible they eat more food in the presence of the overweight prime. An increased link between the stereotype (an overweight person) and behaviors (eating) also helped to activate personal goal commitment. Subjects who were exposed to a picture of someone who is overweight and eating did not eat as much as those who were

In experiment one and two there was a majority of male subjects. While experiment three and four only used female subject. All experiments should have be structured to be more like experiment five, one in which there were almost equal numbers of male and female participants. It is generally thought that females have more self-conscious issues with weight and could possibly interfere with the results. By using equal numbers of male and female participants it would leave less room for speculation about how much the candidates own health conscious goals were reflected in