Rapid Social Perception is Flexible: Approach and Avoidance Motivational States Shape P100 Responses to Other-Race Faces

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6 (140), 2012, DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00140

7 Pages Posted: 31 Jan 2013

See all articles by William Cunningham

William Cunningham

University of Toronto

Jay Van Bavel

New York University (NYU) - Department of Psychology; Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)

Nathan Arbuckle

MIND Research Institute

Dominic Packer

Lehigh University

Ashley Waggoner

Indiana University Bloomington

Date Written: May 24, 2012

Abstract

Research on person categorization suggests that people automatically and inflexibly categorize others according to group memberships, such as race. Consistent with this view, research using electroencephalography (EEG) has found that White participants tend to show an early difference in processing Black versus White faces. Yet, new research has shown that these ostensibly automatic biases may not be as inevitable as once thought and that motivational influences may be able to eliminate these biases. It is unclear, however, whether motivational influences shape the initial biases or whether these biases can only be modulated by later, controlled processes. Using EEG to examine the time course of biased processing, we manipulated approach and avoidance motivational states by having participants pull or push a joystick, respectively, while viewing White or Black faces. Consistent with previous work on own-race bias, we observed a greater P100 response to White than Black faces; however, this racial bias was attenuated in the approach condition. These data suggest that rapid social perception may be flexible and can be modulated by motivational states.

Suggested Citation

Cunningham, William and Van Bavel, Jay and Arbuckle, Nathan and Packer, Dominic and Waggoner, Ashley, Rapid Social Perception is Flexible: Approach and Avoidance Motivational States Shape P100 Responses to Other-Race Faces (May 24, 2012). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6 (140), 2012, DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00140, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2209343

William Cunningham

University of Toronto ( email )

105 St George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Canada

Jay Van Bavel (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Department of Psychology ( email )

New York, NY 10003
United States

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)

Helleveien 30
Bergen, NO-5045
Norway

Nathan Arbuckle

MIND Research Institute ( email )

111 Academy, Suite 100
Irvine, CA 92617
United States

Dominic Packer

Lehigh University ( email )

17 Memorial Dr. East
Bethlehem, PA 18015
United States

Ashley Waggoner

Indiana University Bloomington ( email )

Dept of Biology
100 South Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

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