Effects of photo-presentation to reduce prejudice toward negatively-imaged foreign countries

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine how photo-presentation could influence on the images toward foreign countries. Especially, we would like to know if it can reduce the prejudice toward those countries that had been related to emotionally negative images. Specifically, it was discussed how Japanese university students' images of negatively-imaged and positively-imaged countries (the former were North Korea and Iraq, and the latter were the United States of America and Australia which were showed by preliminary test) could be modified by providing photos that gave counter impressions, and whether the change of their impressions could last or not. The participants (n = 97) were divided into two groups altogether; a group of S (42 students) that was presented positive-image photos for negatively-imaged countries and negative-image photos for positively-imaged countries, and the other group of D (55 students) that was showed both of positive-and negative-image photos of the four countries. From the results, it was indicated that S participants changed their images of the four countries; on the other hand, it was not recognized that D participants greatly changed their images. Furthermore, according to the delayed test conducted two months later, it was pointed that the modification as to North Korea and Iraq has been partially maintained in S participants. From these findings, it can be considered that photos that counter stereotypic images of foreign countries can reduce the fixed images that university students have. In addition, it was indicated that S participants with conservative thoughts modified their stereotypic images toward North Korea and Iraq more. Hence, photo-presentation is considered an effective method to reduce prejudice toward negatively-imaged countries of conservative university students.