Effects of control deprivation on subsequent use of stereotypes

The impact of control deprivation on the tendency to use stereotypes in subsequent social judgments was explored. After being given solvable or unsolvable problems, French high school students were provided with information about a target, including a category label (occupation) and several pieces of nondiagnostic information. Students were asked to form an impression about the target and to describe the target on some personality traits. Compared with the control group, students who were deprived of control relied more heavily on the activated stereotypes. This effect may be caused by a cognitive disruption induced by control deprivation.