THE (LIMITED) ROLE OF TRAIT-LADEN STEREOTYPES IN PREDICTING ATTITUDES TOWARD NATIVE PEOPLES

Three studies examined the role of trait-laden stereotypes (i.e. beliefs concerning the characteristics or attributes of target group members) and other components of intergroup attitudes in predicting evaluations of Native peoples in Canada. In Studies 1 and 2, measures of stereotypes, symbolic beliefs, affect, and attitudes toward Native peoples were assessed. The results revealed that although stereotypes, on their own, were associated with attitudes, they contributed little unique variance upon the addition of symbolic beliefs and affective associates. However, in both studies, the three predictor measures accounted for relatively little variance. In order to see if we could increase our predictive power, a third study explored the influence of behavioural information on attitudes and discovered that the quality (but not the frequency) of past experiences with Native peoples was associated with subjects' attitudes. Implications of the current findings for future research are discussed.