We examined whether a role-playing exercise, similar to that developed by Plous (2000), increases students' ability to generate effective responses to prejudiced comments. We assessed social psychology students' (n = 23) ability to respond to prejudiced comments before and after the exercise, and compared their performance to that of 2 other groups of students (total n = 38) who did not participate in the exercise. Results showed that the exercise increased students' ability to generate effective responses to prejudiced comments. If students apply this skill in their daily lives, it could lead to a reduction in the overt expression of prejudice among others.
References
1.
Ashburn-NardoL.MorrisK. A.GoodwinS. A. (2008). The confronting prejudiced responses (CPR) model: Applying CPR in organizations. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 7, 333–342.
2.
CaseK. A. (2007). Raising white privilege awareness and reducing racial prejudice: Assessing diversity course effectiveness. Teaching of Psychology, 34, 231–235.
3.
ChristopherA. N.WalterJ. L.MarekP.KoenigC. S. (2004). Using a “new classic” film to teach about stereotyping and prejudice. Teaching of Psychology, 31, 199–202.
4.
CitronA. F.CheinI.HardingJ. (1950). Anti-minority remarks: A problem for action research. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 45, 99–126.
5.
CzoppA. M.MonteithM. J.MarkA. Y. (2006). Standing up for a change: Reducing bias through interpersonal confrontation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 784–803.
6.
HackneyA. (2005). Teaching students about stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination: An interview with Susan Fiske. Teaching of Psychology, 32, 196–199.
7.
JunnE. N.GrierL. K.BehrensD. P. (2001). Playing “Sherlock Holmes”: Enhancing students' understanding of prejudice and stereotyping. Teaching of Psychology, 28, 121–124.
8.
PettijohnT. F.IIWalzerA. S. (2008). Reducing racism, sexism, and homophobia in college students by completing a psychology prejudice course. College Student Journal, 42, 459–468.
9.
PlousS. (2000). Responding to overt displays of prejudice: A role-playing exercise. Teaching of Psychology, 27, 198–200.
10.
WagnerU.ZickA. (1995). The relation of formal education to ethnic prejudice: Its reliability, validity and explanation. European Journal of Social Psychology, 25, 41–56.
