Objectified: Interaction with Cultural Objects on Executive Functioning

Abstract

Previous research has found that interactions between different social groups often result in increases in intergroup anxiety, physiological arousal, and impairments on tasks that require executive functioning (e.g., Stroop Task) (Richeson & Shelton, 2003; Richeson & Trawalter, 2005). In extending these ideas, the current study examined the consequences of exposure to an outgroup/unfamiliar cultural object (in comparison to an ingroup cultural object) on executive functioning. It was hypothesized that exposure to an outgroup cultural object will show more interference on an executive functioning task compared to an ingroup or neutral object, especially among those with higher racial bias. Sixty participants were exposed to and asked a series of questions about a neutral object, an in-group object and an out-group object, while performing a digit cancellation task and a Stroop task. At the end of the experiment, participants completed a self-report prejudice survey. It was found that the Stroop average reaction times after brief exposure to an out-group object was significantly higher than the average reaction time after brief exposure to an in-group object. The implications raised by the presence of an outside cultured object on task performance and executive functioning are discussed.