Reducing the expression of implicit stereotypes: Reflexive control through implementation intentions

The authors tested the effectiveness of implementation intentions as a strategy for limiting the behavioral expression of implicit stereotypes. implementation intentions are if-then plans that link an intended response to an anticipated situational cue,thereby enabling a reflexive form of control. the authors examined whether two different types of implementation intentions could improve response accuracy on the shooter task,a reaction time measure of implicit stereotyping. in study 1,participants used a distraction-inhibiting implementation intention designed to engage control over the perception of goal-irrelevant stimuli (e.g.,race). in study 2,participants used a response-facilitating implementation intention designed to promote goal-directed action. across studies,implementation intentions improved accuracy,thereby limiting the behavioral expression of implicit stereotypes. furthermore,process dissociation analyses indicated that the distraction-inhibiting implementation intention increased controlled processing while reducing automatic stereotype activation,whereas the response-facilitating implementation intention increased only controlled processing. implications for goal strategy approaches to reducing prejudice are discussed. © 2010 by the society for personality and social psychology,inc.