Social categorization by race or sex: Effects of perceived non-normalcy on response times

Two experiments assessed target-based determinants of social categorization. In Experiment 1, participants judged targets' race and sex separately. Consistent with the prediction that targets would be categorized on dimensions perceived to be non-normative, black male targets' race was judged more quickly and sex more slowly than for white male targets. Judgments of black females' race and sex were both inhibited, suggesting that these targets were subtyped. In Experiment 2, participants judged targets' race and sex simultaneously. Also consistent with predictions, black female targets were judged more quickly, and black male and white female targets more slowly, than white male targets. These data provide additional evidence that targets are categorized based on non-normative information. The automaticity of race and sex categorization is discussed, and possible revisions of current models of impression formation are considered.