The current research tested the principles of role congruity theory of prejudice, which states that prejudice arises from an incongruity between a group stereotype and social role characteristics (i.e., the attributes and behaviors prescribed by the social role), such that prejudice occurs when members of a group enter or attempt to enter into social roles that are stereotypically mismatched for their group (Eagly, 2004; Eagly & Diekman, 2005; Eagly & Karau, 2002). This research examined prejudice toward men, women, and/or individuals with a mental illness; tested the theory's main premise that the degree of role congruity predicts the degree of prejudice; and attempted to manipulate role congruity. Study 1 measured the stereotypes of men, women, and people with a mental illness and the characteristics required for occupational roles as well as prejudice toward men, women, and people with a mental illness in these roles. Results indicated that men were more suited for roles requiring agentic traits and women for roles requiring communal traits. In addition, people with a masculine sex-typed mental illness (e.g., alcoholism) were more suited for roles requiring agentic traits and people with a feminine sex-typed mental illness (e.g., depression) for roles requiring communal traits. The match between stereotypes and role characteristics also predicted prejudice. Studies 2 and 3 each attempted to manipulate one of the components of role congruity in order to assess the causal effect of role congruity on prejudice. In Study 2, occupational roles were described in either an agentic or communal manner and participants indicated the suitability of a male or female for the role. In Study 3, different aspects of gender stereotypes (i.e., high or low agency or communion) were primed and participants indicated the suitability of a male or a female for a role requiring high agency and high communion. Results from both studies showed role congruity effects in some of the roles, but also showed differences due to participant sex. Overall, the results from the second two studies provide weaker support for role congruity theory than those from the first study, but taken together, these studies support role congruity theory.

Last modified

• 06/27/2018

Creator

• Anne M. Koenig

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N25986

Subject

• Psychology

Keyword

• people with mental illness
• gender
• prejudice
• role incongruity

Date created

• 2007-05-14

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright