Effects of Gender Stereotypes on Spontaneous Trait Inferences and the Moderating Role of Gender Schematicity: Evidence from Chinese Undergraduates

Abstract

Using a recognition probe paradigm, two studies were performed to examine the role of gender stereotypes activated by faces in Chinese undergraduates' spontaneous trait inferences (STIs). In Experiment 1, compared to the baseline, participants made stronger STIs for gender stereotype-consistent behaviors and weaker STIs for gender stereotype-inconsistent behaviors. These results suggest both facilitatory and inhibitory effects of stereotype activation on STI processes. In Experiment 2, these effects were replicated for gender-schematic participants, whereas neither facilitatory nor inhibitory effects were obtained for gender-aschematic participants. These results suggest a moderating role of gender schematicity in the influence of gender stereotypes on perceivers' STIs from actors' behaviors.