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Why do interracial interactions impair executive function? A resource depletion account.

Jennifer A Richeson·Sophie Trawalter
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Abstract

Three studies investigated the veracity of a resource depletion account of the impairment of inhibitory task performance after interracial contact. White individuals engaged in either an interracial or same-race interaction, then completed an ostensibly unrelated Stroop color-naming test. In each study, the self-regulatory demands of the interaction were either increased (Study 1) or decreased (Studies 2 and 3). Results revealed that increasing the self-regulatory demands of an interracial interaction led to greater Stroop interference compared with control, whereas reducing self-regulatory demands led to less Stroop interference. Manipulating self-regulatory demands did not affect Stroop performance after same-race interactions. Taken together, the present studies point to resource depletion as the likely mechanism underlying the impairment of cognitive functioning after interracial dyadic interactions.

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CognitionEthnicityHumansInterpersonal RelationsPrejudiceReaction TimeSocial Control, InformalVideotape RecordingJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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Jennifer A Richeson, Sophie Trawalter. 2005. Why do interracial interactions impair executive function? A resource depletion account.. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.6.934

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